
(CNN) - Following his big rally endorsing Herman Cain for president in South Carolina last week, comedian Stephen Colbert announced Monday he was calling it quits.
"My fellow Americans of South Carolina: While your turnout on Saturday was historic, unfortunately–and no one could have predicted this–Herman Cain did not win the South Carolina primary," Colbert said on his Comedy Central show.
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He added: "So it is with a heavy heart and a spastic colon, that I am re-suspending Herman Cain's suspended campaign."
Colbert had tried to get his name on the Palmetto State ballot, but since he missed the November filing deadline and because the state doesn't allow write-in votes, Colbert urged supporters to vote for the former Godfather's Pizza executive in his stead.
Cain suspended his campaign last month but his name remained on the ballot.
The faux TV news host also announced plans to end his own short-lived White House bid, saying he was shutting down the presidential exploratory committee he started nearly two weeks ago - members of which, he joked, included Henry Kissinger, a "super intelligent" ferret, the iPhone software Siri, and a roll of quarters.
"So now that my exploration has come to an end, who knows what I'm going to do. Maybe I'll be like Herman Cain and hit the road in a bus with my face on it," Colbert said. "Maybe I'll hit the road in a bunch of tiny cars, each with a different part of my face on it."
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And now for something completely different. Colbert resumes control of the superPAC from Jon Stewart.
So what happens to the Super PAC?
Go away fool....
Too bad. Only guy I'd have voted for.
Go and continue campaigning Colbert for another 6 years and come back!
Sadly, CNN finds this clown worthy of notice.
I don't think that anyone who had watched Colbert on his show would ever suggest he was a "fool." He has an awesome intelligence and striking wit.
Colbert is brilliant...both in delivery and content. I feel very, very sad for those that just don't "get" him.
And the only credible GOP candidate is now out. Send in the clowns!
Wow, that sucks. You mean we have to deal with the other four clowns now? Sheesh.
Get over it, haters. Just enjoy the intelligent humor of this sideline " campaign". It's so much better than the unintelligent nastiness of the " real" campaign.
He was the only GOP candidate worth going to the polls for. First, Huntsman, and now Colbert ... too bad.
Colbert speaks truth to power through satire, if you don't get that, you're a "fool"...
As long as he keeps highlighting the insidious destructiveness of Citizens United, I'm okay with Colbert dropping out.
So Colbert won't be President of the United States of South Carolina? Too bad. That could have been interesting.
He did put a frightening face on the recent SCOTUS decision giving corporations citizenship along with 1st amendment rights. Opened a Pandora's box for foreign money and influence that guarantees more, much more, of the status quo that is leading to the demise of our rights and freedom. Freedom paid for by the very citizens who stand to lose the most. No one involved with these slimly crooks has even for a moment thought about enlisting in our armed forces to fight the wars so many of them say are needed to preserve our security as a sovereign nation(see Mittens and his 5 Kittens).
Please Steve, don't drop out.
You're the only rational voice in the pack.
ROFL ... another one bites the dust.
colbert is a joke! making a mochary of our election process...republicans make us look stupid enuf.
Leftist opportunist and NOT at all funny.
Belongs in entertainment section....
Colbert need to disappear. As flawed as our system is it should not be mocked.
Herman Cain's campaign was always a joke. He played right into Colbert's hands, and he still doesn't know it. He let himself be set up for more ridicule, demonstrating yet again (in case anybody missed it the first few dozen times) that he is not qualified for any office, except the pizza office.
LOL, Colbert. Don't worry I'll always love you
Hey " Sf " Don't you think the Republican clowns that are running are making a mockery out of it ? Of course they are. Everybody know that Stephen Colbert is just clowing around.