Stephen Colbert — who announced plans to run for the presidency, at least in South Carolina, on his Comedy Central show Tuesday night — is apparently serious enough that his staff reached out to the state’s Democratic and Republican committees in advance of his announcement.
Joe Werner, executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, said that a representative for Mr. Colbert, who was raised in Charleston, called three weeks ago to request basic information about filing dates and other requirements. Mr. Werner added, “From what I understand, he does have credible people down here, working to have him placed on the ballot.’’
Katon Dawson, the chairman of the state Republican Party, said his office had also received a call from Mr. Colbert’s staff — on Tuesday. The call came just hours before Mr. Colbert taped his own show (in which he said he hoped to run as both a Democrat and Republican) as well as a teaser to his announcement that appeared on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,’’ which leads into “The Colbert Report.’’
Mr. Dawson, though was far more dismissive of Mr. Colbert’s apparent intentions than his Democratic counterparts. “My advice,’’ he said in a telephone interview, “is that he could probably have more fun buying a sports car and getting a girlfriend.’’
In a surprise appearance on Mr. Stewart’s show just after 11 p.m. on Tuesday, Mr. Colbert arrived on the back of a bicycle piloted by someone in an Uncle Sam costume. After propping up his feet on a hay bale and cracking open a bottle that looked like beer, Mr. Colbert, in character as a conservative blowhard, told Mr. Stewart that he was considering a run.
But on his own show, which began at 11:30 p.m., he declared in the midst of a cascade of red, white and blue balloons: “After nearly 15 minutes of soul-searching, I have heard the call.’’
How far Mr. Colbert is willing to go — and why exactly he is doing this, beyond stoking interest in his show and a new book, “I Am America (And So Can You)’’ — was not at all clear. He did not return messages left with various publicists this morning.
But assuming he is serious, what would Mr. Colbert have to do to get on the Democratic ballot in the South Carolina primary, which is expected to be held on Jan. 26?
“Well, there’s two ways,’’ Mr. Werner said. “The first is you pay a $2,500 filing fee. And if you can’t afford to do the $2,500, you can gather 3,000 signatures.’’
And time, at least for now, is on his side. Those seeking a claim on the state’s 54 delegates to the Democratic Convention can start to file their paperwork on Monday, and will have until Nov. 1 to complete the process.
In considering any application, Mr. Werner said, the state Democratic committee would seek evidence that a candidate intended to “actively campaign’’ in the state. But when asked if there was a specific definition, Mr. Werner said: “No, there’s not. There is a definition of campaigning set forth in the rules and bylaws of the Democratic National Committee. We probably could refer to that if we needed to.’’
Mr. Colbert would also need the blessing of the nearly 20 members of the executive council of the South Carolina Democratic Party. And that could pose a problem — if Mr. Colbert went ahead with his apparent intention to seek a line on both the Democratic and Republican ballots.
“I don’t believe you can do that,’’ Mr. Werner said. “If he is looking to be a candidate for the Democratic nomination, I don’t believe we can allow him to be on the ballot if he is actively seeking Republican delegates to the convention.’’
But what if Mr. Colbert decided to throw in his lot solely with the Democrats? Provided Mr. Colbert met all the other requirements, Mr. Werner said, “our executive council would have a hard time not putting him on the ballot.’’
“Stephen has an incredible following,’’ Mr. Werner said. “I’m a fan of the show.’’
However dismissive Mr. Dawson may be about Mr. Colbert’s plans, he said that he did not believe the Republicans could stop him from seeking both Republican and Democratic delegates.
“There is nothing in our filing that would prohibit him from running on both ballots, if he chose to pay the filing fees,’’ Mr. Dawson said.
And what is that fee? A steep $35,000, said Mr. Dawson.
“The great thing about America,’’ Mr. Dawson said, “is if you can meet the constitutional requirements to run for president of the United States, you can do so. In Mr. Colbert’s case, we look forward to his paying the filing fee before Nov. 1.’’ |
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