The Margin has long observed Mike Bloomberg's relentless pursuit of success in the hardy world of newswire journalism. Now the self-made billionaire wants to become mayor of New York.

That is all very well, although the move to politics seems to have prompted some lifestyle adjustments down in chateau Bloomberg.

To gain favour with the sizeable Spanish-speaking vote in the big city, the great man now travels everywhere with a personal tutor of Spanish. He has also left four exclusive clubs that have predominantly white memberships.

This from a man who wroted in his autobiography that he gave the press a "colourful" personality "to make good copy". "I was Bloomberg - Bloomberg was money - and money talked. Perfect!"

Nothing like an ambitious streak, eh.