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Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Ford’s victory comes after four dizzying months that saw the PC party lose its leader, then nearly tear itself apart with internal squabbling and score-settling. A remarkable number of PC candidates had — and have — dark clouds hanging over their heads. The alleged theft of private information from the 407 ETR and its use to sign up fake party members could involve two dozen candidates. A police investigation into the alleged rigging of a nomination meeting in Hamilton is ongoing. Ford himself was caught on tape apparently offering to pay for other people’s memberships on behalf of Etobicoke Centre candidate Kinga Surma. In the dying days of the campaign, Renata Ford invited voters to imagine their premier facing down his brother’s ex-wife in court in a $16.5 million lawsuit alleging (among other things) that Ford, with brother Randy, ran the family business nearly into the ground.

Polls suggest all that cost them some support. But it seems the Tory brand was strong enough to endure any misgivings people might have had about him. An Ipsos poll conducted in mid-May suggests Ontarians trust the PCs far more than the other two parties when it comes to the economy, lowering energy costs and balancing the budget. Those are huge priorities for Ontarians — all the more so for conservatives.

A recent Ipsos poll found that balancing the budget and paying down debt were “top priorities” for 59 per cent and 53 per cent of PC voters, respectively. Eighty per cent of Conservative voters agreed with the statement: “I would rather the government cut spending on services than run a larger budget deficit.” Unsurprisingly, almost no one said they’d like to pay more in taxes. Ford promises families — and corporations — will pay less.