Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford denied paying for party memberships during a campaign stop in Tillsonburg.

"The NDP promises a lot, but if you look at the math, the mistakes that have been made, their inability to explain some of the mistakes that have been made, then I think it's clear there isn't a realistic plan coming from them", she said.

"Am I going to give up?"

Despite Horwath's performance and her party's favoured second-choice status among supporters of the other two parties, Bourque said it is still too unpredictable to predict the New Democrats will end up in first place - at least in terms of the popular vote.

The allegations didn't bother attendees at a Ford rally Thursday night in Hamilton - the riding held by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath. The decision folks have to make at this point is: "is that going to be Doug Ford or me?"

"People want change (but) they don't want an NDP government", Ford said in Toronto.

Their assessment appears accurate, said Genevieve Tellier, a political science professor at the University of Ottawa.

She said the NDP would cut $85 million from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, describing them as hostile to the business community.

"They brought legislation down on the education workers in our province that led to a Supreme Court challenge because they stomped on people's constitutional rights and so Kathleen Wynne can complain all she wants about the fact that I value a respectful, positive working relationship with working people - the Liberals have a very, very bad record", she said.

"Yes, of course, the Liberals are third, it's going to be hard for them to improve but I think that in some area they are putting a good fight so they should not be entirely discarded", she said.

Some observers are already encouraging voters to cast their ballots strategically. The party would win just five ridings.

"We can not go backwards and elect a premier who is not going to consult with First Nations, honour existing agreements and advance First Nations priorities", he said. "They are dreamers, we are doers".

Ford has pledged in recent days to act swiftly if evidence of wrongdoing by candidates surfaced.

Nine out of ten said they will not change their plans to vote PC.

Horwath said all parties agree the plant can't operate forever.

"Doug is committed to fixing Ontario's finances, creating jobs, improving healthcare and services, and getting our taxes and hydro bills under control", she stated in the clip.

Ford used his main campaign event of the day to announce that a Tory government would keep Pickering open until 2024.

The Tories accuse the New Democrats of having several "radical" candidates, including September 11 conspiracy theorists and a woman who is against wearing a poppy on Remembrance Day.

On page 11 of the NDP's northern Ontario platform, it states the party plans to "maintain funding and support" for the NOHFC.