Rob Ford withdraws from Toronto mayoral race

TORONTO, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has withdrawn from his re-election race.

Jeff Silverstein, Ford's campaign spokesman, submitted withdrawal paperwork to the elections services office in Toronto's City Hall Friday afternoon, immediately prior to the deadline for inclusion on -- or withdrawal from -- ballots in the Oct. 27 election.

Ford was hospitalized Wednesday after a tumor was found in his abdomen. Dr. Zane Cohen, colorectal surgeon at Toronto's Mount Sinai hospital, said results of a biopsy, which could indicate the nature of the tumor and the course of treatment, will not be seen until next week.

The mayor's brother, Doug Ford, a member of the Toronto City Council, told the Toronto Sun, "This decision has not yet been made and there is a lot of pressure because the deadline is in a few hours. We are waiting to talk to the doctors and a decision has to be made."

The mayor's nephew, Mike Ford, withdrew from a Council race in which he was running, and there is speculation he may replace his uncle as a mayoral candidate.

Rob Ford, 45, achieved notoriety for a variety of personal problems, including substance abuse and public drunkenness, and for refusing to resign his office while denying the problems and later recovering from them.