So, after all that, I gather the dead-line for removing oneself from the ballot September 12.
Until then, can I float the theory that Karen Stintz left her purse behind ON PURPOSE . . . and picked it up later.
I keed. I keed.
There are a couple of strategies for no-hope mayoral candidates to employ (at this point assuming it will be everyone other than Tory/Chow):
1. Withdraw completely by Sep 12th. Highly unlikely for anyone barring something brazen (ahem)
2. Drop down to a ward position by Sep 12th. Ford and Stintz could both do this credibly, maybe Soks but hard to see why he would want that. If Stintz/Soks do this they are probably gunning for deputy mayor / budget chief (which is hardly worth the effort of running for mayor). Tory/Chow of course have no chance at this option
3. "Withdraw" from the race after Sep 12th but your name must stay on the ballot. Stintz is the only one who could pull this off. If she does then you have to assume that she's really got her sights set on a federal seat. She'll have lined up a cushy radio spot or board chair position to keep her name in the news until 2015. No advantage for Soks to do this unless he gets a sweet deal from the eventual winner.
4. Fight to the end and expect to lose. This is the most likely outcome for Soks and Ford. Stintz could also take this path, but if she wants to run federally then a gracious withdrawal is a better setup. You go down with honour and all that, but staying to the end squanders whatever political capital you still have
4a. Post loss, have your designated patsy resign their just-won ward seat and trigger a mandatory by-election. This may be a fantasy Plan C for the Ford camp, but is high risk and would likely suffer from voter blowback. The Fords could certainly try something this stupid, but not the others