To some the Republican primary season has already been something of a joke, with numerous gaffes and disastrous debate performances. However, comedian Stephen Colbert may take the joke to a whole other level tonight when he announces whether he will run in the South Carolina GOP primary. Last night Colbert hinted that he may enter the race since every other Republican candidate has failed to mount a serious challenge to Mitt Romney. A video of Colbert’s segment can be seen to the left.
As Colbert explains, South Carolina may be the last opportunity Republicans have to keep Mitt Romney from winning the nomination in their party. Romney has already won Iowa and New Hampshire. The demographics of the South Carolina GOP are better for Romney’s Republican rivals like Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum. If Romney cannot be defeated in South Carolina, it seems doubtful that he can be beat anywhere. In addition, South Carolina tends to be the place where the eventual Republican nominee is actually chosen, as opposed to New Hampshire and Iowa where the field is simply narrowed.
All of these facts lead Colbert to conclude that he is the only man left to take on Romney. It is far too late for Colbert too get his name on the ballot in South Carolina for next week’s primary, but he could attempt a write-in campaign. As Colbert explains, he is currently polling better than Jon Huntsman in South Carolina, even though Huntsman placed third in the New Hampshire primary. If he does run, Colbert would likely simply play out his ultra-conservative persona, mocking the other candidates’ positions along the way.
In the past Colbert has reveled in the opportunity to make fun of the political system. In 2008 Colbert, who is from South Carolina, tried to run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. Colbert was rejected by both parties, who doubted the legitimacy of his campaign. In 2012 Colbert has set up a Super PAC in order to expose the many loopholes in campaign finance laws that allow for unlimited amounts of corporate money to influence elections. Now, Colbert may reveal just how frustrated Republicans are with their presidential field by mounting a successful write-in campaign in South Carolina.
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