(CNN) - Faux-news host and comedian Stephen Colbert announced Thursday night he was launching his second run for president in South Carolina.
"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 at a taping of his show Thursday evening.
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Colbert said voters in South Carolina saw him as an alternative to current GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney.
"Clearly my fellow South Caroliniacs see me as the only Mitternative," Colbert said.
However, according to South Carolina election law, Colbert may not get his way. The state's website said write-in votes are prohibited in political party primaries or for president and vice president.
South Carolina Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire told CNN with the Republican presidential primary just nine days away, there "won't even be a way for someone to do that because it's not allowed under the law."
The comedian missed the November 1 filing deadline to get his name on the GOP primary ballot. Whitmire added that, in accordance with the law, there's no write-in space on the electronic and paper primary ballots.
Colbert, who filed to run for the White House as a Democrat in 2007, lost a fight with South Carolina's Democratic Party when it removed him from the state's 2008 primary ballot, a step that ended his presidential bid.
But the comedian has been back in full force this election cycle with his own Super PAC, called "Making a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow."
In October, the Federal Election Commission allowed Colbert to form the group, which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money on a candidate as long as it doesn't coordinate with a candidate's campaign.
In the taping of his show Thursday, Colbert confronted that hurdle, officially signing over the super PAC to fellow Comedy Central host Jon Stewart.
As a satire on super PAC rules, the group created a commercial endorsing "Rick P(a)rry" just days before the Texas governor launched his White House bid this summer.
"So to prove we're truly uncoordinated, we're asking voters to write in Parry with an A – as in America, IowA, or PresidAnt," Colbert said. "You can feel confident he's not asking us to do that."
In the fall, Colbert also made news when he offered $500,000 of super PAC funds to cover the cost of South Carolina's primary on January 21, following a heated battle within the state over who would pay for the contest-the state party or the taxpayers.
In return, Colbert, a South Carolina native, asked for the rights to change the name of the primary to the "The Colbert Super PAC South Carolina Republican Primary."
The state did not take him up on the offer.
– CNN's Shawna Shepherd, Ashley Killough and Julian Cummings contributed to this report.
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From CNN Politics
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That is too funny. I would vote for him over any republican.
Just goes to show ya that it isn't true what they taught in school, that anyone can become president.
COLBERT FOR PREZ!!!
Colbert for President!!!!!
Where is Ron Paul? Not even one word on this page.
Romney and Colbert, they both are Democrats pretending to be Republicans to further their careers, I really don't see the difference.
Stephen Colbert for president 2012!!!
I see him as the smartest in the Rep field. I'd vote for him.
My kind of conservative.
He would probably be better than any politician we have right now.
I thought he was Canadian
Stewart/Colbert 2012!
Why everyone ks so protective of Mitt Romney and his lies? McCain don't attack Mitt now Sc Gov Haley Don't
South Carolina's just scared of the truthiness!
Not allowing write ins is just another way the establishment limits voter choice and pushes for its own anointed golden boys. Write ins are an integral part of voting liberty.
You call this news!
Yay Steven. I hope he wins!
Just another example of how the 2 parties collude to keep any serious alternative candidate out of the running so they can keep raking in that "Presidential Election Fund" tax money.
About time we had a candidate who is in touch with the needs of others, and himself, especially himself...well mostly himself. I am looking forward to a brighter future, in the future...
About time we had a candidate the was in touch with the needs of others, and himself, especially himself, actually mostly himself...looking forward to a brighter future, in the future.
CNN calls Colbert faux news but he is more legitimate than anything out of the real fake news station Fox.
All you morons who think Colbert is so great. State ONE of his positions. Being funny is not a prequisite for president. With idiot voters like you no wonder we end up with dismal failures like Obama
Finally a GOP candidate worth voting for!
A truly intelligent candidate emerges. Colbert in 2012 !!!
Unlike the rest of the GOP field (especially Paul) – Colbert knows when he is saying crazy things that don't make any sense.