The message from Toronto’s top politico to members of Ford Nation Thursday night couldn’t have been clearer: He’s not backing down.

Mayor Rob Ford launched his re-election campaign Thursday night amid a crowd of supporters and a throng of media at the Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke.

Ford took to the podium shortly after 8 p.m. after making his way through the crowd lead by bagpipers and followed by sign-wielding volunteers.

“This is so much better than speaking to a wall of reporters,” Ford announced to the crowd. “These are the real people of Ford Nation I like to speak to.”

In a roughly half-hour speech without a specific platform announced, Ford touted his record since he became mayor, and promised more of the same going forward.

Ford also painted himself as a representative of hard-working city residents, aligning himself with the average Torontonian.

"The people of Toronto know that I understand them, that I stand up for them, and (that) I won't back down when I'm fighting for them," he said.

Ford also addressed some of his well-publicized personal problems that have captured media headlines over the last year.

"There's been some rocky moments over the past year,” he said. “I have experienced how none of us can go through life without making mistakes.

“I owe the people of Toronto a great, great debt of gratitude,” he added. “You are the salt of the earth.”

Chow current frontrunner: poll

A recent poll showed that Ford, who beat his closest challenger by a landslide when he was elected mayor in 2010, now sits at 27 per cent support, seven points behind current front-runner former councillor and MP Olivia Chow.

Radio host John Tory sits at 24 per cent while former TTC chair Karen Stintz sits at six per cent support and former budget chief David Socknacki sits at four per cent.

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