News of a possible movement to get John Tory back into the Toronto mayoral race produced an immediate swell of support, but key advisors from his aborted campaign say it’s unlikely to happen.

The Star revealed Tuesday that several city councillors were approached last week about whether they would be willing to endorse Tory, who in January surprised many supporters by opting to host a CFRB open-line show and chair the nonpartisan Toronto City Summit Alliance rather than try to succeed Mayor David Miller.

The councillors wouldn’t say who contacted them. Case Ootes, a Tory booster, told the Star’s Vanessa Lu he has asked colleagues about Tory out of his own curiosity, adding: “I think people are disappointed with the field.”

By 2 p.m. Tuesday, more than 90 comments posted on the story on thestar.com were overwhelmingly positive about a Tory re-emergence. Election-oriented Twitter feeds were also abuzz with speculation, much of it positive.

The news sent a shiver through the campaigns of three hopefuls — Rocco Rossi, George Smitherman and Rob Ford — who would lose votes, donations and staff to a Tory bid.

But senior officials from the camps all said the rumours were news to them, and past Tory supporters now behind their candidates were denying there is a credible “draft Tory” movement.

Political consultant Warren Kinsella, who has not moved into another camp since Tory’s January announcement, told the Star he knows of no such movement. “I think people are confusing hopes with reality,” he said.

Another Tory fan and friend, Bob Richardson, noted that Rogers Communications recently announced Tory is joining its board of directors.

“That's not the sign of somebody who is contemplating a return to political life,” Richardson said.

When reached on Monday in Europe, where he is attending his daughter Susan’s medical school graduation, Tory declined to comment on the rumours.

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