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New “Robbie Bobbies” set to help fund Ford’s re-election bid

To fund his reelection campaign, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is doing what any rockstar would do: he's selling merch.

"Capitalizing now on the infamy from his crack scandal, Rob Ford could well be the first Toronto candidate to bankroll a campaign with merchandise," Natalie Alcoba writes for the National Post.

Among the mayor-themed merchandise are four new editions of the popular "Robbie Bobbies," the Rob Ford bobblehead dolls that never fail to sell out.

Three of the dolls — the Hollywood/Tuxedo Rob, Jimmy Kimmel Rob and Football Tie Rob — will raise money for his campaign. A fourth bobblehead doll will raise money for a local hospital (the three previous editions of "Robbie Bobbies" all raised money for charities, including $10,880 for the Canadian Cancer Society).

Only 500 versions of the Football Tie Rob doll will be made, and they will be sold for $100 each at next week's campaign launch at the Congress Centre, Councillor Doug Ford revealed yesterday.

Buyers of the $100 dolls will get an $89 campaign donation rebate from the city. According to campaign rules, the actual cost of the bobblehead can't be reimbursed.

The other fundraising dolls will sell for $30 apiece.

Because of election rules — only people in Ontario can donate to municipal campaigns — people outside the province won't be able to buy these versions of the popular dolls.

"Our biggest problem is all the people around the world that want them, but can't get 'em," said Councillor Ford. "We got (sic) to figure out the legalities of doing that."

Also available: Ford-themed sweatshirts, T-shirts, keychains and coffee mugs.

In other Ford news, "Trailer Park Boys" actor Sam Tarasco, one of the members of Rob Ford's campaign team, co-hosts an online marijuana show called "High F---ers," on which he often dedicates his drug use to the controversial mayor.

"In honour of Rob Ford, I think we should smoke the ‘green crack’ kush today," Tarasco says at the beginning of the second episode.

Earlier this week, Councillor Ford insisted Tarasco's role on the team was not "high-level." Maybe just "high"?