Wyclef Jean Drops Presidential Bid in Haiti

Singer promises to work behind the scenes in Haiti
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 22, 2010 2:46 PM CDT
Wyclef Drops Presidential Bid
In this Aug. 18, 2010 file photo, Wyclef Jean, speaks during an interview at his mother's house in Croix de Bouquets, Haiti.   (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa, file)

Wyclef Jean has formally dropped out of the race for president of Haiti. After weeks spent battling election officials' rejection of his campaign, Wyclef conceded that "some battles are best fought off the field. That is where we take this now." Don't peg Wyclef's pullout on modesty—he still plans to release an album tentatively titled If I Were President, the Haitian Experience, his brother Sam tells the Christian Science Monitor.

There's still one musician/politician in the race, however: Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly, and he could capitalize on the surge of interest among young voters created by Wyclef's aborted run. Martelly is in many ways more qualified than Wyclef, says one political science professor: He lives in Haiti, speaks Creole, and is a more articulate, policy-oriented candidate. Click here for all things Wyclef.
(More Wyclef Jean stories.)

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