Colbert Looks for Votes

COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON — Coming to the S.C. GOP presidential primary too late to appear on the ballot, South Carolina native and conservative TV host Stephen Colbert asked the 3,500 people who attended his rally Friday at the Cistern to cast their ballots for Herman Cain, who also joined Colbert on stage.

A vote for Cain is a vote for Colbert and his principles of corporate personhood. Colbert has been flaunting his not-coordinated Definitely Not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC and the Citizens United decision with the Supreme Court that, as he said, was a big push for "corporate civil rights." 

While the 3,500 people waited for more than three hours for Colbert appeared warm to the candidate, who is still in the exploratory phase of running for the President of the United States of South Carolina, many weren't willing to cast their ballots for Cain Saturday. 

"We love Stephen Colbert," Meg Scruggs of Nashville said. Scruggs was one of the many students attending the rally. "I don't really consider him a real candidate."

She said she'll be voting for Ron Paul. Her friend Megan Lynch of Columbia said she's voting for Newt Gingrich.

"I'm worried this guy, Herman Cain, will drop out of the race," Lynch said.

Lynch has reason to worry, . But whether or not the man taking his name to the ballot Saturday will drop out or not, is not certain, since his campaign still is not official. 

One undecided voter wanted Colbert to convince him.

"I might be convinced, only if Stephen Colbert convinces me," student Joe Busch of Atlanta said. 

Another voter saw Colbert as more of a rallying figure.

"I love Colbert. He's a great face four our country," Thomas Horton of Moncks Corner said.

Conservative voter Tyler Boone of Charleston was less than impressed with the rally and remained unswayed though still undecided.

"He was all just thanking people," Boone said. "I'm really confused."

Even though exploring as a candidate for the GOP race, Colbert brought out supporters from the Democratic party and the Occupy Charleston group. 

Pennelloppe Allee of Summerville, who has been involved with Occupy, brought her two children to the event. She said she'll be voting for Herman Cain Saturday. 

"I support what he's doing," Allee said, adding that she hopes he wins or at least does well Saturday. 

Impressed with Colbert's stance on campaign finance, Allee wasn't concerned with Colbert's alleged and on-screen affair with his handgun.

"Affairs are not a determining factor in who I vote for," Allee said.

While Colbert shared the stage (and the Cain bus) and invited Cain to the event, Cain — — asked voters not to vote for Cain and waste their vote. Colbert admitted, he likely doesn't have much of a chance of winning the primary Saturday. 

"I'm going to ask you to not vote for Herman Cain, and here's why: I don't want you to waste your vote," Cain said.

Cain recently endorsed the American people as the GOP presidential nominee. 

Colbert didn't seem shaken by his colleague's affront to his candidacy using his name.

Colbert responded to critics who have labeled him a joke or a farce. If this is a joke, then the American campaign finance system is a joke, he said.