Free Republic

Haitians paid tribute on Sunday to the singer Mikaben, whose sudden death during a concert in Paris left his country reeling. The 41 year-old recording artist, whose real name is Michael Benjamin, suffered a heart attack during a performance on Saturday, shocking fans who saw him collapse as he made his way off stage. He was appearing at the 20,000-capacity Accor Arena in eastern Paris as a guest of the Haitian group Carimi. Videos on social media show him performing, then suddenly turning and making his way towards the back of the stage. He collapsed in full view of spectators,...

n New York Republican circles, Michael Benjamin has become a bit like the kid on the basketball court begging the other players to pass him the ball. Even as the party has all but given up any hope of finding a candidate who can beat New York's well-funded senior senator, Charles E. Schumer, next year, Mr. Benjamin has been trying to convince the party's leaders that he is the man for the job. Mr. Benjamin, 33, has put more than 40,000 miles on his Ford Explorer in the last nine months, visiting every one of the state's 62 counties in...

He's Spoiling for a Chance to Take On Schumer By RAYMOND HERNANDEZ Published: November 10, 2003 In New York Republican circles, Michael Benjamin has become a bit like the kid on the basketball court begging the other players to pass him the ball. Even as the party has all but given up any hope of finding a candidate who can beat New York's well-funded senior senator, Charles E. Schumer, next year, Mr. Benjamin has been trying to convince the party's leaders that he is the man for the job. Mr. Benjamin, 33, has put more than 40,000 miles on his...

WESTCalifornia. Rosario Marin stepped down Monday as the 41st treasurer of the United States, paving the way for a possible challenge in 2004 to Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer. Marin, a Republican, formerly served in GOP Gov. Pete Wilson's administration as legislative analyst for the Department of Developmental Services. She was also mayor of Huntington Park. California political consultant Kevin Spillane said Marin would make an announcement this month about running against Boxer, whose lukewarm fundraising and liberal voting record have made her a prime Republican target in 2004. Toni Casey, the Republican mayor of Los Altos Hills, already has announced...

Michael Benjamin has all the makings of a first-rate Senate candidate. The New York Republican is sharp, aggressive and perfectly at home talking tax cuts, welfare reform or judicial nominees. He speaks Spanish (good for reaching out to Latinos), he's spent years combating domestic violence (should help with women), and he says the voters he's met like him. The only obstacle facing the 33-year-old Wall Street equities trader is his opponent, Democratic Sen. Charles Schumer. With $15 million in the bank and Democrats far outnumbering Republicans in the Empire State, Schumer should be nearly impossible to beat -- as GOP...