The withdrawal of Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and the entry of his older brother in the election race has turned the spotlight from a volatile man who had admitted smoking crack cocaine to his less charismatic but steadier sibling, long seen as the power behind the throne.

Rob Ford, 45, who was hospitalized Wednesday with an abdominal tumor, dropped his bid for re-election on Friday. His brother Doug, 49, took his place in the race to lead Canada's largest city and financial capital.

Doug Ford, a first-time city councilor and businessman, has been the mayor's most aggressive advocate, defender and sometimes critic. The elder Ford was also the mayor's campaign manager.