Doug Ford Would Take Over For Stephen Harper

In a report that likely filled some Canadians with terror, Doug Ford admitted he would consider taking over for Prime Minister Stephen Harper as leader of the Conservative Party.

Ford, 50, ran a failed mayoral campaign in Toronto last fall when a cancer diagnosis forced his crack-smoking brother, former mayor Rob Ford, to drop out of the race.

He told Bloomberg News he hoped Harper would remain prime minister "for the next 20 years." But, should Harper step down following a minority win in the October election, he wouldn't rule out taking his place.

"I never say never in politics," he said.

Rob Ford, now a city councillor, told Bloomberg his brother is "as popular as anyone else across Canada."

The Fords have close ties with Harper, who has attended barbecues at the family home and gone fishing with the scandal-plagued former mayor in the past.

Reviving of one his signature phrases, Doug Ford told Bloomberg Harper is "as honest as the day is long."

The Fords fancy themselves something of a political dynasty; one of them is basically always running for something, or talking about running for something. Doug, specifically, has long had his eye on taking over the Ontario Progressive Conservatives and taking down Premier Kathleen Wynne. Their dad Douglas Ford Sr., was a PC member representing Etobicoke-Humber.

Recent polls show a three-way tie between the Conservatives, the NDP, and the Liberal Party leading up to the Oct. 16 election, lending credence to the idea of a Doug Ford takeover.

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