One week away from Rob Ford's return to the mayor's office and the campaign trail, the Toronto election is as tight as it's ever been. In a new poll conducted by Forum Research, the mayor has clawed back a little from the historic low his approval rating had hit in the company's last survey. While one needs to bear in mind the accuracy of the poll (three percentage points, 19 times out of 20), Ford's improved numbers do underline the degree to which he remains a competitive candidate in the race.

The projected share of votes between the frontrunners breaks down as follows: Chow: 34 per cent, Ford: 27 per cent; Tory 24 per cent. Those numbers mirror Forum Research's poll from April 14th, roughly three weeks before the mayor checked himself into rehab amid a second drug-related scandal. In other words, if Forum's numbers are to be trusted, Ford is every bit the contender he was prior to his absence.

Ford's approval rating is also up in this poll, rising from 28 per cent to 32 per cent. That's still well below the 46 per cent he enjoyed prior to rehab, but there's plenty of opportunity for the mayor to win Ford Nation back upon his return on June 30th. For additional insights from the poll, head over to Forum's website.

Photo by Roger Cullman Photography.