Bonnie Crombie has taken a commanding lead in the Mississauga mayoral race after receiving an endorsement from the city’s long-time leader, a new poll has found.

In September, a Forum Research poll gave Steve Mahoney a four-point lead over Crombie, but the new telephone poll of 769 residents gives Crombie the support of 56 per cent of voters compared to 31 per cent for Mahoney and four per cent for Stephen King.

The poll was conducted on Wednesday, just five days after Hazel McCallion spoke favourably of the former Liberal MP and current city councillor at an event, telling attendees that she has “every confidence that when you review it, you will vote for Bonnie Crombie.”

“It is clear that the royal touch of Queen Hazel has had the desired effect, and Bonnie Crombie is now firmly in the lead, after going neck and neck with Steve Mahoney for months,” Forum Research President Dr. Lorne Bozinoff said in a press release accompanying the poll. “

McCallion, who is retiring after 36 years in the city’s top job, had previously refused to endorse any candidate for mayor and both Crombie and Mahoney have admitted to being surprised by the change of course.

In addition to seeing her overall support skyrocket following McCallion’s endorsement, Bonnie Crombie also saw her approval rating rise from 66 per cent to 74 per cent in the latest poll. Mahoney, meanwhile saw his approval rating drop from 76 per cent to 61 per cent.

The poll is considered accurate to within 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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