Watch the candidates on Colbert Thursday night.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Sen. Hillary Clinton played up her image as a tireless problem solver — this time for laughs — when she visited Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" Thursday night.

Not to be outdone, Sen. Barack Obama, her rival for the Democratic nomination, showed up via satellite to poke fun at what he called the media's fixation on gaffes and trivialities.

Clinton emerged just as host Stephen Colbert, broadcasting from the University of Pennsylvania ahead of the state's primary Tuesday, was lamenting that he had no technicians to repair the lost signal on his giant rear projector screen.

"Are you telling me there is no one in this theater who can fix the mess we're in?" Colbert cried out.

"I can," Clinton said as she strolled onstage. She questioned an assistant about technical specifics before figuring out the problem. Then she called out a makeup artist to take care of Colbert's shiny forehead.

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Watch Stephen Colbert on Larry King Live.

(CNN) – Stephen Colbert, the Comedy Central host who launched his own short-lived presidential bid last year — discussed politics with CNN’s Larry King Monday night. Some highlights:

On Bill Clinton: “I think that he’s a rogue operative that they’re having trouble shutting down. …He’s a totally separate entity unless, of course, we’re talking about the time that he was president and Hillary Clinton was getting experience by being his wife.”

On the Pennsylvania primary: “I’m a kingmaker. I just want to help the people of Pennsylvania decide who I think they should vote for.”

On Chris Matthews: “He’s probably running for Arlen Specter’s seat in 2010.”

On the Iraq war: “Certainly, in a time of war, there should be no questioning of our leaders and no questioning about whether a surge is or is not successful. We should start thinking more about how the war is feeling and less about how we are feeling about the war.”

Colbert is broadcasting his show, The Colbert Report, from Philadelphia all week. Barack Obama will not be a guest on the show, but wife Michelle Obama is scheduled to make an appearance Tuesday night. Obama’s rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton, is reportedly scheduled appear on the show Thursday.

PHILADELPHA (AP) — Hillary Clinton is hoping the "Colbert bump" will help propel her to victory in Pennsylvania.

The Democratic presidential hopeful is making her first appearance on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" on Thursday. Both Clinton and Colbert have come to Pennsylvania ahead of the
state's hard-fought Democratic primary on April 22.

Clinton rival Barack Obama also is in Pennsylvania — but he is declining Colbert's invitation. Obama's wife, Michelle, will appear on the show Tuesday.

News of Clinton's visit was divulged Monday night in Philadelphia by MSNBC pundit Chris Matthews. He blurted it out backstage during taping of the show at the University of Pennsylvania's Zellerbach Theater. The news was confirmed by a person close to the satirical news program who insisted on anonymity because the visit has not been officially announced.

Democrats appearing on the show have sometimes enjoyed increases in fundraising afterward.

Prominent Obama supporters in South Carolina pressed Democratic party officials to keep Stephen Colbert off the primary ballot.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — Two prominent supporters of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign in South Carolina called state Democratic Party officials and urged them to keep funnyman Stephen Colbert's name off the primary ballot, according to party officials and Obama supporters.

The Obama campaign denied any connection to the phone calls.

"Democrats in South Carolina, including supporters of ours, had strong feelings on both sides of the ballot issue, and ultimately it was South Carolina Democrats who made this decision," said Obama's South Carolina communications director Kevin Griffis.

The South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Council voted last week 13-3 to block Colbert's bid for the Democratic primary.

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Related video: CNN producer Peter Hamby discusses this story on Newsroom

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Colbert's presidential bid was short lived.

NEW YORK (CNN) — With his tongue planted firmly in his cheek, Stephen Colbert said he is taking a break from his Comedy Central faux news program to mourn last week’s decision to block him from being on the South Carolina Democratic Party’s primary ballot. Even if he wanted to work, his offices would be empty because his writers are participating in the Writers Guild of America strike.

Colbert’s statement to CNN’s Showbiz Tonight on the South Carolina Democratic Party’s decision:

"I am shocked and saddened by the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council’s 13-to-3 vote to keep me off their presidential primary ballot. Although I lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history — only ten votes — I have chosen not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle. It is time for this nation to heal.

I want say to my supporters, this is not over. While I may accept the decision of the Council, the fight goes on! The dream endures! …And I am going off the air until I can talk about this without weeping."

The South Carolina Democratic Executive Council voted 13-to-3 vote last week to keep his name off of the presidential primary ballot.

Comedy Central was scheduled to air a re-run of Colbert’s program Monday night due to the strike.

– CNN Political Assignment Editor Katy Byron

John Edwards said Stephen Colbert are both South Carolina natives.

CHERAW, South Carolina (CNN) — Former Sen. John Edwards said Friday that having comedian and fellow South Carolina native Stephen Colbert on the Democratic presidential primary ballot would have made the electoral process a little more fun.

Asked by CNN about the state Democratic party's decision Thursday to keep Colbert off the ballot, Edwards laughed and said he had not heard the news.

"Is that true?" he asked, smiling and looking around at reporters. "I hadn't heard about that."

Edwards, whose campaign issued a light-hearted statement last week saying they would "kick Colbert's butt" in South Carolina, said he would have liked to see Colbert run.

"I kind of like Colbert on the ballot myself," Edwards said. "I think it adds a little bit of interest. I like it though. I think it's fun."

Related video: Watch Edwards discuss Sen. Clinton and Stephen Colbert

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Colbert's presidential bid is likely over.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — The South Carolina Democratic Party voted Thursday to keep comedian Stephen Colbert's name off the Democratic Primary ballot, according to Executive Director Joe Werner.

This essentially means that Colbert’s short lived White House run in the Palmetto State will come to an end, because he has said that he would not try to be placed on the Republican Party primary ballot.

The state party's executive council met this afternoon in Columbia to decide which Democratic candidates met the criteria to be placed on the ballot. To be placed on the South Carolina ballot a candidate must demonstrate national viability as well as campaign in the state.

Colbert, who officially filed papers to get on the ballot this morning, lost a roll call vote, 13-3.

Meanwhile, presidential long shots, Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, made the cut.

State Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler suggested Wednesday that Colbert does not meet the standard of national viability.

"He does not appear to be campaigning to win if he is only running in one state," she said.

Werner confirmed Thursday that viablity was the issue — because Colbert only sought to run in South Carolina and has essentially acknowledged his bid was a joke, the party could not deem him viable.

Full story

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Will the South Carolina Democratic Party allow Stephen Colbert on the ballot?

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) – Comedian Stephen Colbert's fanciful White House bid took a real step Thursday.

It's up to South Carolina Democrats to decide whether to take him seriously.

Colbert, who poses as a conservative talk show host on the Comedy Central cable network, filed to get on the ballot as a Democratic candidate in his native South Carolina. His campaign paid a $2,500 filing fee just before the noon deadline, said state Democratic Party Chairwoman Carol Fowler.

Whether he'll appear on the ballot will be decided by party officials later Thursday.

The host of "The Colbert Report" doesn't appear to meet the party's viable candidate qualification. And it's unclear if he would meet the requirement that candidates actively campaign in the state.

Colbert did appear Sunday at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, telling several hundred fans he would, if elected, "crush the state of Georgia." He also received a key to the capital city and the mayor declared him South Carolina's "favorite son."

When Colbert announced his candidacy on his show last month, he said he would run only in this key primary state.

Colbert's presidential bid is no joke.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — Funnyman Stephen Colbert's presidential campaign is apparently no joke.

The host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" will file papers late Wednesday or early Thursday to put his name on South Carolina's Democratic primary ballot, a source familiar with the comedian's strategy said.

The South Carolina native will not file papers as a Republican because the $35,000 required to get on the GOP ballot is apparently too high a threshold.

"They priced us out of range," the source told CNN.

Full story 

– CNN South Carolina Producer Peter Hamby

Watch Stephen Colbert in South Carolina.

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (CNN) — Comedian Stephen Colbert brought his mock presidential campaign to the capital of South Carolina Sunday, where he was declared "favorite son" by the mayor of Columbia and given the key to the city.

Colbert, a native of Charleston, told the raucous crowd of several hundred gathered on the University of South Carolina campus that, "I love South Carolina almost as much as South Carolina loves me."

The host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report" is seeking to get his name on both the Republican and Democratic ballots for the South Carolina primaries in January.

"I am here not only to accept the honor you have given me but to prove to everyone that this campaign is real," Colbert said. "To put an end to the vicious rumors that this is not a serious candidacy."

He joked that, "Over the past 18 hours, this campaign has gone everywhere in this state, from Charleston to Columbia."

After spending several minutes espousing the quality of South Carolina peaches, Colbert laid out his vision for the future of the state.

"In the 19th century, South Carolina was the first to secede," he said. "In the 21st we will the first to succeed. First to secede. First to succeed. I own the copyright on that phrase, if you use it you must pay me a royalty."

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Comedy Central says a Colbert presidential run would not violate election laws.

(CNN) – OK, so it’s not exactly the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. But could it be the Lawyers Who Stole Election Night for Stephen Colbert?

The Comedy Central host's bid for the presidency may be fake, but very real election laws could mean the comedian's "candidacy" in South Carolina may never actually happen.

Questions have been raised whether a Federal Elections Commission ban on corporate sponsorship of candidates would apply to Colbert. His show on Comedy Central is owned by Viacom and sponsored by Doritos.

There’s no issue yet because, real or not, Colbert’s not officially a candidate. He hasn’t submitted petitions to make the ballot anywhere, though he says he plans to run as both a Republican and a Democrat in his native Palmetto State.

Though, as The Ticker has reported, the State parties may prevent him from appearing on both ballots simultaneously.

But the "truthiness" of the federal statutes may not take away all the fun, anyway.

A Comedy Central spokesman said the network believes the candidacy would be within the rules.

"Based on the law, prior rulings made by the Federal Election Commission and advice of expert outside counsel, Comedy Central is very comfortable that the network, 'The Colbert Report' and Stephen Colbert are operating well within federal campaign election laws," the spokesman said.

– CNN Political Desk Managing Editor Steve Brusk

Colbert insisted he's serious about getting on the South Carolina ballot.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Is Stephen Colbert serious when he says he wants to run for president in South Carolina?

Yes, according to the fake-news host himself who appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday after the very-real presidential candidate Barack Obama.

“I think a lot of people are asking whether—they say is this, is this real, you know? And to which I would say to everybody, this is not a dream, you’re not going to wake up from this,” Colbert told host Tim Russert. “I’m far real-er than Sam Brownback, let me put it that way.”

“I don’t want to be president,” he added. “I want to run for president. There’s a difference.”

Brownback, a Republican senator from Kansas, dropped his bid Friday after disappointing fundraising and low placement in most polls.

Colbert acknowledged his presidential campaign wouldn’t extend past his home state of South Carolina and said he will consider it successful if he just captures one state delegate.

“It’s proportional voting on the Democratic side — all I need is enough votes on the Democratic side to get one delegate, and I’ll feel like I’ve won. Because if, at the Democratic National Convention, somebody has to stand up and say, “The proud state of South Carolina, the palmetto state, the home of the greatest peaches and shrimp in the world, casts one vote for native son, Stephen Colbert,” I’d say I won.

Colbert has said he will seek to be a candidate in both the Democratic and Republican primaries in the Palmetto state. On his show Wednesday, he signed paperwork for both ballots. But as The Ticker reported last week, it remains to be seen whether the State parties will allow that to happen.

But Colbert, who didn’t break from his conservative-TV host act during the entire Meet the Press interview, gave plenty of hints he might not be too serious after all, including the revelation that he would consider embattled Idaho Sen. Larry Craig as his running-mate.

Though the Comedy Central host refused to say if he’d met “in the same room” with Craig to discuss the potential ticket.

“Sorry, my lawyer’s telling me to say no more,” he said.

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Watch Colbert discuss his political aspirations with CNN's Larry King.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — He made a splash with a surprise presidential announcement Tuesday, but can Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert actually get on the primary ballots in South Carolina?

The answer is yes, although it could get pricey.

The fee to be considered for the Democratic ballot is $2,500, while it’s a hefty $35,000 to gain admittance into the Republican primary.

Colbert has indicated he will seek to appear on each party's ballot and the South Carolina Secretary of State's office confirms a candidate is allowed to run in both primaries.

But it remains to be seen if the State Democratic Party's Executive Committee, whose approval Colbert needs to get on their ballot, will vote to certify a candidate who is also running in the GOP race. The rules state the candidate must be "actively campaigning" for the Democratic primary.

Meanwhile, the State Republican Party does not require an executive committee vote and would not prevent a candidate from appearing on both ballots.

Colbert has until the end of this month to file with both parties. The Republicans are holding their primary January 19, while the Democrats will vote January 26.

The Palmetto State is one of four lead-off primary states that will likely play a crucial role in determining the eventual nominee of both parties.

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Colbert said Tuesday he will run for president in South Carolina.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — He hinted at a possible run for the White House on CNN's Larry King last week, but Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert made it official Tuesday night: he's jumping into the presidential race in his home state of South Carolina.

"After nearly 15 minutes of soul-searching, I have heard the call….I am hereby declaring that I will enter the presidential primary in my native South Carolina, running as a favorite son," Colbert said on his show Tuesday night. "I defy any other candidate to pander more to the people of South Carolina — those beautiful, beautiful people."

South Carolina is one of four lead-off primary states that will likely play a crucial role in determining the eventual nominee of both parties.

On Larry King last Thursday, Colbert laid out his potential electoral strategy, saying he'd see how he did in South Carolina before deciding to move on to other states. (Watch Colbert discuss his political life on CNN's Larry King)

"I think maybe there's something I could offer the campaign on a state-by-state basis," he said. "I would target a state individually…a test run."

Colbert, author of the recently released “I Am America (And So Can You!),” also told King he'd seek to run as both a Democrat and Republican.

"I'd let the people decide what party I belong in," he said. "I don't dictate the people's actions."

In the interview with King, Colbert also brushed aside suggestions that it was a "cop out" to run in both parties, calling it instead courageous, because, "I could lose twice." (Related video: Watch more of Larry King's interview with Colbert)

In the slim chance that he wins a party's nomination, Colbert said Tuesday he'd consider either Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, Russian President Vladimir Putin, or himself for a running mate.

"Colbert-Colbert — that's a strong ticket," he argued.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney