Colbert's S.C. Ballot Bid Denied

This story was written by Jess Davis, The Daily Gamecock

The executive committee of the party voted 13 to 3 against letting Colbert on the ballot, said Keiana Page, a communications assistant for the party.

Colbert announced a couple of weeks ago that he would run for president in both the Republican and Democratic primaries.

His campaign tried to collect 3,000 signatures to get on the ballot but instead paid a $2,500 filing fee, said party chairwoman Carol Fowler.

Colbert handled the news with grace and class.

"Why! Why don't you want me in your race?" he asked on his show last night. "Fine, it's your loss, Democrats."

One reason Colbert was not allowed to run was that he did not have a nationally viable campaign.

Colbert had made only two campaign stops, at the College of Charleston and at the University of South Carolina this weekend. Students were unsure if Colbert was ever running a serious campaign or if it was all just a joke, but some are surprised that he can't run at all. He chose not to pay a $35,000 filing fee to enter the Republican primary.

The Democratic Party "denied him his right to run," said Bobby Sutton, a second-year media arts student.

But others said it was a reasonable decision by the party.

"I think it's fair. I think the parties have the right to set their own rules and things like that," said Allen Klump, a fourth-year political science student who collected petition signatures for Colbert. Klump said Colbert can still run as a third party, so he hasn't lost his right to run.

But, "Do I think they should have done that?" Klump said. "No, they shouldn't have done that at all."

"I think it's great that we're looking at something other than Obama and Hillary hating each other," Carrie Schwartz, a fourth-year psychology student, said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
© 2007 The Daily Gamecock via U-WIRE