Like many on this thread, I was not surprised in the least by the whole switcheroo things (Etobicoke Screwjob?). The fact that the media refers to it as a "breathtaking turn of events" confirms that most of them are mouth breathers who are constantly distracted by whatever new shiny object the Fords dangle before them.
Does anyone recall November 5th, 2013? I'll refresh your memories. Rob Ford goads the media into finally asking him "the right question" (nevermind that they'd asked it multiple times before) and says "Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine." At which point, he is whisked into the office where he is holed up for the next several hours while several Ford Family members and hangers on enter and leave. At the end of the day, Rob emerges to give a "speech" that was utterly pointless except to tell us that a) he wasn't resigning, and b) DOUG KNEW NOTHING. I wrote this at the time:
https://twitter.com/YYZMarc/status/397839431606214656
My suspicion is that this plan has been in the works since at least then. And what better way to preempt the media from scrutinizing you than to consistently say (but not entirely say) that you wouldn't be running again? Only to get in the race with 6 weeks left. It always irked me when journalists would claim that Doug wasn't running. Which just goes to prove what I always say:
The first rule of Ford Club is - Assume they are lying
The second rule of Ford Club is - Assume nothing other than that they are lying