Olivia Chow could soon enter Toronto’s mayoral race

Watch the video above: Olivia Chow campaign ready and waiting. Jackson Proskow reports. 

TORONTO – Toronto’s mayoral race is about to heat up as NDP MP Olivia Chow prepares to file her nominations papers at city hall later this month.

A source working on Chow’s campaign said Chow has a campaign platform ready but has yet to decide whether she wants to challenge Mayor Rob Ford.

If she does however, she has a full campaign, fundraising, communications and media team ready to go.

The Toronto Star reported Thursday Chow would likely focus on her impoverished roots growing up in the city with a family that diligently watched its spending habits.

The federal MP is also expected to draw in formidable fundraising efforts for her campaign, which expects to raise the maximum $1.5 million allowed.

While touring apartment buildings in Toronto Thursday, Mayor Ford laughed off the idea of Chow “out-fundraising” him when reporters asked.

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“That’s funny,” Ford said before walking away.

WATCH: Rob Ford on possibility Olivia Chow may out-fundraise him: “That’s funny”

But the fundraising’s about more than raising money. Chow is expected to target individual donors – a practice that helped propel Ford into the mayor’s office.

Chow is likely the last of the big names to enter the mayor’s race, the others being incumbent Rob Ford, David Soknacki, Karen Stintz and John Tory.

In an interview with The Morning Show in January, the Trinity-Spadina MP remained coy about declaring her candidacy but didn’t shy away from taking a shot at Mayor Ford.

“I firmly believe that Rob Ford is not a good role model for kids,” Chow said on Jan. 23. “That’s why I’m seriously considering.”

WATCH: NDP MP Olivia Chow is interviewed on The Morning Show on Jan. 23, 2014.

READ MORE: Rob Ford registers for re-election, calls himself city’s ‘best mayor’ ever

Chow will likely be the only progressive candidate on the ballot as the other challengers are considered fiscal conservatives.

Voters head to the polls on Oct. 27.
Follow @jamesarmstrong7