Look At George's Track Record At Queen's Park.....

....bounced from two cabinet positions! He couldn't even make it in Dulltoon McGinty's cadre. In the last municipal election the results, IMHO, were close:

David Miller	299,385	43.26
John Tory	263,189	38.03

Tory still the best man to fill the mayor's shoes

By CHRISTINA BLIZZARD, SUN MEDIA

While George Smitherman wants to be known as the man who would be mayor, John Tory is the guy who should sit in the big chair at City Hall.

George running -- in marathon

Mayoral prospects Smitherman, Tory maintaining low profile

By DON PEAT, SUN MEDIA

Call it the calm before Toronto's 2010 political storm.

After a day of speculation spawned by two-term Mayor David Miller pulling out of next year's mayoral race, the two speculated frontrunners in the drive to replace Miller were relatively silent this weekend.

Although Ontario Deputy Premier George Smitherman will be lacing up his running shoes for the 5-km run at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon today, the normally gregarious George wasn't commenting yesterday about next year's election race or reports he was about to get booted from cabinet.

Smitherman's spokesman, Amy Tang, told the Sun the Toronto MPP -- who has publicly said he's mulling a run for Miller's job -- is still concentrating on his provincial portfolios.

"The minister is focused on his current job as deputy premier and minister of energy and infrastructure," Tang stated in an e-mail yesterday. She refused to address any cabinet changes, instead directing those inquiries to the premier's office.

A spokesman for Premier Dalton McGuinty stressed that only the premier decides on cabinet posts.

"There is no sense in speculating," the spokesman said, adding the entire cabinet is focused on "improving our economy and creating jobs."

Smitherman won't be the only politico racing today. City councillor Karen Stintz -- another rumoured mayoral candidate -- will be running the full marathon. Miller will be running the half marathon in his first public appearance since Friday's tearful announcement.

Former Progressive Conservative leader John Tory -- another potential mayoral challenger and currently the host of an hour-long Sunday-night show on CFRB -- won't be sounding off tonight about Miller's departure.

Although Tory -- who lost to Miller in the 2003 election -- spoke to reporters outside CFRB Friday and was on the air that afternoon, he's now off the radio for a week. Next Sunday night, Tory will be back on the airwaves before starting his daily Live Drive show on Newstalk 1010 Monday afternoon.

Ironically, Tory spent his on-air time Friday defending Miller after his co-host accused Miller of crying crocodile tears at the press conference.

Tory, who bowed out as PC leader earlier this year after losing a byelection, talked about how emotional an experience leaving public life can be.

DON.PEAT@SUNMEDIA.CA