Stephen Colbert Gives Jon Stewart Control Of His Super PAC, Explores 2012 Presidential Run

Stephen Colbert is transferring control of his super PAC to fellow Comedy Central host Jon Stewart, making it legal for him to explore a presidential run.

"I'm proud to announce I plan to form an exploratory committee to lay the groundwork for my candidacy in the United States of South Carolina," Colbert said during a Thursday night taping of his show, according to CNN.

As ABC News reports, Colbert proclaimed, "With your help and with possibly the help of some outside group that I am not coordinating with, we can explore taking this country back ... Thank you, God bless you, and God bless Citizens United."

There has been speculation about a potential Colbert presidential run in recent days after a poll showed the satirist leading Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman in South Carolina. Colbert said his placement in the polls -- "ahead of the third place finisher in New Hampshire" -- meant a potential Colbert 2012 effort "just got real."

"Clearly my fellow South Caroliniacs see me as the only Mitternative," Colbert said.

During his Jan. 11 show, he asked fans if he should consider a presidential run and promised a big announcement the next day.

"It all makes so much sense!" Colbert said. "My heart always leads me to me, and I am so not Mitt!"

The comedian acknowledged that a presidential bid would be a longshot, noting that the major Republican candidates have long been working toward their campaign goals.

"These guys have been running for a year now," Colbert said. "How can I ever compete with an established candidate like Jon Huntsman?"

Unfortunately for Colbert, a presidential run may not be a possibility this late in the game. Colbert missed the November 1 filing deadline to get his name on the GOP primary ballot in South Carolina, and according to the South Carolina Election Commission, there's no write-in space on the electronic and paper primary ballots.

Comments

[YoureSoShain]

01:12 PM on 01/16/2012

I would actually vote for him, both in character and out.

[DavidEvan]

06:55 PM on 01/15/2012

He doesn't represent my exact idea of a leader who must tell my body what to do at every minute lest I fall into a state of sin. He must be of certain stature so as to correctly block out the sun, moon, and books other than the bible.

[ComedyFan]

08:04 AM on 01/14/2012

What I love most about both Stewart and Colbert is that they demonstrate how powerful it is when someone can both entertain AND teach an important point at the same time.

Go Collbert Nation!

[timebon]

12:18 AM on 01/14/2012

Let a real "clown" take over this idiocy. Mitty, Newty, Ronni, Ricki,...Gop Clown College bus just left.

Watch and learn.

[timebon]

12:15 AM on 01/14/2012

Let a real clown take over this idiocy. Gop clown college take note, get out of the way. Mitty, Newty, Ricki, Santi, Ronni...you guys are history.

[countrycontemplative]

06:11 PM on 01/13/2012

He's got my vote. Will Jon Stewart be his running mate?

[ComedyFan]

08:00 AM on 01/14/2012

We can only hope. Just imagine the State of the Union speeches. : )

[fatpratt]

05:05 PM on 01/13/2012

i have enjoyed stewart/cobert for many years now. they both have very serious followings. cobert has a very serious superpak. remember the Sanity party in the national park? cobert (along with cobert nation)has dedicated lots of bucks to the olympics in vancouver, went to congress and spoke to the needs of the migrant workers. the humor is necessary and much appreciated by most. takes some of the shock affect out of the truth. these two men are comedians whose comedy is satirical of politics. you must admit they may never run out of material. and i do watch these shows for their perspectives on the news. i haven't found a discrepency yet. i watch FAUX for comedy.

[Tmil]

05:00 PM on 01/13/2012

I'd like to see his birth certificate. He sounds French to me.

[rocksbestfriend]

03:47 PM on 01/13/2012

7 Videos of Stephen Colbert Before the Colbert Report
http://www.relevant-blog.com/2012/01/7-videos-of-stephen-colbert-before.html

[Rita Renae Moulder]

03:32 PM on 01/13/2012

i like the idea :)

[thoreau101]

03:23 PM on 01/13/2012

"according to the South Carolina Election Commission, there's no write-in space on the electronic and paper primary ballots"

As if this state of nitwits knows how to write.

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

12:29 PM on 01/15/2012

Yeah. Southerners are stupid. I get it. Is this an example of geographic determinism? Are Southerners just innately inferior to Northerners, Westerners, New Englanders, Mid-Westerners, etc? Are they culturally inferior? What's the source of your prejudice?

[thoreau101]

01:11 PM on 01/15/2012

History is the source. From slavery all the way to the GOP "southern strategy," which is still in effect.

Next stupid question from you?

I'll exclude New Orleans and some university towns in the south from my analysis.

One date: Nov. 22, 1963

[Itsmeeveryone]

03:11 PM on 01/13/2012

You're not funny dude, stop trying.

[luvobama]

03:19 PM on 01/13/2012

He is hilarious and brilliant.

[Itsmeeveryone]

03:19 PM on 01/13/2012

No.

[Parkimedes]

04:47 PM on 01/13/2012

Absolutely brilliant! I love the line "God bless Citizens United." Right after making it seems so corrupt, he pins the entire thing where it belongs. Its funny because its true!

[Sean Whelan]

03:43 PM on 01/13/2012

And yet he leads John Huntsman in South Carolina.

[razaminaz]

02:37 PM on 01/13/2012

Wasn't this a Robin Williams movie?

[Free Your Mind]

01:53 PM on 01/13/2012

See "Hacking Democracy" by HBO and blackboxvoting.org

[pollylpc]

01:44 PM on 01/13/2012

I love Stephen Colbert...If I were Republican, I would vote for him.

[Steve Lives]

03:52 PM on 01/13/2012

Colbert is not a Republican, he just makes fun of them by satirizing them. So even I would cast a vote for him.