Mayor Bloomberg (center), Brooklyn Assemblywoman (D) Diane Gorden (to the rear), Brooklyn Councilwoman Tracy Boylan (right) and Tracy's father former State Assemblyman Frank Boylan (far right). (WNYC/Bob Hennelly)

NEW YORK, NY August 22, 2005 —WNYC is taking a closer look at the five candidates running for mayor. The first up in our series is the man who holds the job now, Mayor Bloomberg. He won last time as the billionaire underdog who had two strikes against him: he was a registered Republican originally from Massachusetts. WNYC’s City Hall Reporter Bob Hennelly has this day-in-the-life profile of the one-time political novice -- now the incumbent who will be tough to beat.

» Slideshow: Michael Bloomberg on the campaign trail