It was a switch from the familiar verbal jabbing in the Toronto mayoral race, when candidates at last night’s debate were asked to say something nice about each other.

John Tory and Olivia Chow were on the panel at the event in Regent Park, as was fringe candidate Ari Goldkind.  Doug Ford had cancelled the day before to watch the Leafs game with fans outside the ACC.

Tory gave credit to Goldkind for giving of himself in a race where he’s a long shot.  “I just admire so much, anybody who has so much passion and has so much strength of conviction about the things he believes in.  And I think you see it’s evident from the way he speaks, that he would take of his time, take away from his time, and I know because we’ve had a little chat about it.”

As for Goldkind, he had this to say about Olivia Chow.  “Ms. Chow does care.  She knows these things.  She knows we’re not a broke city.  She wants to make people’s lives better.  She cares about youth.  She cares about children.  She cares about seniors.  And anyone who’s knocked Ms. Chow, and she’ll tell you that herself, I’ve gone up to her personally, and said, ‘you don’t have to take that crap.'”

But when Chow was asked to say something positive about John Tory, her comments were less than sincere.  “Mr. Tory has nice kept hair.  He can talk fast, pretty smooth, and he can talk without breathing.  And he has an amazing phone book, good rolodex, and that’s also important.”

The election is on October 27th.  Advance polling takes place from October 14th to the 19th. Find out details about your vote, by clicking here