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On a bright Thursday in September, Denis Coderre moves through the dining room of the Sommet de la Rive seniors residence in Verdun, cracking jokes, leaning in for a two-cheek kiss, getting on one knee for a photo with a resident in a wheelchair.

“Did you miss me?” he asks. “Are you well?”

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“This is the best crowd I’ve ever seen,” he quips.

The crowd laughs, old hands at electoral humour. White-haired residents line up with smartphones to take selfies.

This is a common sight with the incumbent mayor of Montreal. On this day, in his 11th electoral campaign, he will visit two seniors residences, a homeless centre, Ste-Catherine and Crescent Sts., a forum on elderly abuse, small businesses on Wellington St., a Bangladeshi event and a cancer fundraiser.

Interspersed, as well, are three meetings, one with the governor of Maryland.

Coderre says he sleeps four hours a night. He loves the work, but regrets the time away from his wife and two children, age 21 and 24.