# Is Colbert for real? (+ could he win?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 30, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558 "2007-10-30T10:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dystinct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Dystinct](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dystinct)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/1 "2007-10-30T10:42:06Z")
At first i thought it was a joke., but is Stephen Colbert for real about running for President? As i understand it, he’s saying he’s only going to run in South Carolina. Is this for real? And what would the impact on showing his show in South Carolina? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/2 "2007-10-30T10:59:13Z")
[QUOTE=Dystinct] At first i thought it was a joke., but is Stephen Colbert for real about running for President? As i understand it, he’s saying he’s only going to run in South Carolina. Is this for real? And what would the impact on showing his show in South Carolina? [/QUOTE] Well the biggest impact on his running is that he’d have to give up his television show. So I think it’s unlikely you’ll see it happen. ---
**Author:** ![Dystinct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Dystinct](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dystinct)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/3 "2007-10-30T11:05:41Z")
I did read something though, about him having to use a different website for printing off petition forms, due to technicalities and what not. If his show didn’t feature anything about his presidential bid, would it still be possible for it to air in South Carolina? As i understand it, there are “equal exposure laws” (Which im uncertain about, does it mean equal exposure to both major candidates or to ALL presidential candidates?) Yet i imagine with news and satirical shows this would be a little different. ---
**Author:** ![Julius\_Henry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8797f3/32.png) [@Julius\_Henry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Julius_Henry)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/4 "2007-10-30T11:19:30Z")
[QUOTE=Dystinct] As i understand it, there are “equal exposure laws” (Which im uncertain about, does it mean equal exposure to both major candidates or to ALL presidential candidates?) [/QUOTE] Equal time laws apply to broadcast television only, so they don’t apply to this case. For that same reason, TNT will be able to continue to show reruns of \*Law & Order \* which feature Fred Thompson. ---
**Author:** ![Dystinct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Dystinct](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dystinct)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/5 "2007-10-30T11:22:29Z")
[QUOTE=Julius Henry] Equal time laws apply to broadcast television only, so they don’t apply to this case. For that same reason, TNT will be able to continue to show reruns of \*Law & Order \* which feature Fred Thompson. [/QUOTE] So with that in mind, is there any reason Colbert wouldn’t be able to keep his show and also run for President int he state of South Carolina? ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/6 "2007-10-30T13:11:55Z")
From what I can see (not being terribly interested) he is as serious as Pat Paulsen ever was. I can enjoy a comic mocking the electoral process by participation. (You are allowed to vote for anyone you want to – you are not limited to whichever rich lawyer the main parties present to you.) ---
**Author:** ![Dystinct](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Dystinct](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dystinct)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/7 "2007-10-30T13:14:55Z")
[QUOTE=DrFidelius] From what I can see (not being terribly interested) he is as serious as Pat Paulsen ever was. I can enjoy a comic mocking the electoral process by participation. (You are allowed to vote for anyone you want to – you are not limited to whichever rich lawyer the main parties present to you.) [/QUOTE] Ok, but will people see his name on a ballot? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/8 "2007-10-30T13:26:44Z")
That is what the petition is for. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/9 "2007-10-30T13:33:00Z")
[QUOTE=Dystinct] Ok, but will people see his name on a ballot? [/QUOTE] I hope so. There may be enough people in Columbia and Clemson to get him at least one delegate to either convention. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/10 "2007-10-30T13:44:35Z")
Mayor Bob gave him the key to the city the day before yesterday. Mayor Bob also gave it to New Edition in 2006. Yes, you read that year right. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/11 "2007-10-30T14:00:06Z")
[QUOTE=Maus Magill] I hope so. There may be enough people in Columbia and Clemson to get him at least one delegate to either convention. [/QUOTE] Per the [previous thread from last week](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=440547&highlight=Colbert) he would need to win 15% of the Democratic vote to get any delegates and he would have to win the Republican primary outright. ---
**Author:** ![Alphaniner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a87d85/32.png) [@Alphaniner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphaniner)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/12 "2007-10-30T14:42:06Z")
He is ‘seriously’ running, but he’s not really doing anything. He just says ‘vote for me’ and is done with it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/13 "2007-10-30T14:49:41Z")
If Hillary wins the nomination I will most likely write-in Colbert for president. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/14 "2007-10-30T14:50:42Z")
[QUOTE=Alphaniner] He is ‘seriously’ running, but he’s not really doing anything. He just says ‘vote for me’ and is done with it. [/QUOTE] Actually, CNN says he was campaigning in SC over the weekend. [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:Wr7MB9SJ-W4J:politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/28/colbert-campaigns-in-sc-edwards-camp-attacks-doritos-link/+edwards+colbert+doritos&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us](http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:Wr7MB9SJ-W4J:politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/10/28/colbert-campaigns-in-sc-edwards-camp-attacks-doritos-link/+edwards+colbert+doritos&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us) Ultimately I don’t think he’ll get on either ballot. The Democrats have a committee that rules on whether or not a candidate appears, and I’m not sure where he will get the $35,000 he needs to get on the Republican ballot. I think they’ll each exclude him because he is trying to run as party of the other party. However, he’ll appear on my ballot after I write him in. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/15 "2007-10-30T14:59:01Z")
My WAG is that some “scandal” will arise days from the election and Colbert will “shamefacedly” “withdraw” from the “race”. “Allegedly”. “:D” ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/16 "2007-10-30T15:19:39Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] The Democrats have a committee that rules on whether or not a candidate appears, and I’m not sure where he will get the $35,000 he needs to get on the Republican ballot. [/QUOTE] You don’t know where a millionaire will get $35,000? ---
**Author:** ![stolichnaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bcef8e/32.png) [@stolichnaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stolichnaya)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/17 "2007-10-30T15:35:48Z")
From Doritos, of course. It’s corporate speech- I’m sure no Republican worth his salt would object. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/18 "2007-10-30T15:45:23Z")
[QUOTE=DrFidelius] From what I can see (not being terribly interested) he is as serious as Pat Paulsen ever was. I can enjoy a comic mocking the electoral process by participation. [/quote] Legend has it that when Huber Humphrey met Pat Paulsen, he said, “You cost me the election”, and he may have been only half-joking. For that reason I’m not too keen on joke candidacies. If one side is serious about winning and the other side is filled with jokers, which side is more likely to win? > [@](#): > > (You are allowed to vote for anyone you want to – you are not limited to whichever rich lawyer the main parties present to you.) Are 5% of Americans living under the Nader Administration? Sure, you can vote for whoever you want, but which of the 2 rich lawyers would you rather see win? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/19 "2007-10-30T15:47:31Z")
[QUOTE=bouv] You don’t know where a millionaire will get $35,000? [/QUOTE] I don’t know if he’s a millionaire; he’s only been doing the show for two years. He’s got $35,000 to burn, I’m sure, but I don’t know if he’ll do that for a joke. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558/20 "2007-10-30T15:55:20Z")
[QUOTE=sqweels] If one side is serious about winning and the other side is filled with jokers, which side is more likely to win? [/quote] Both sides have about ten serious candidates. Of course, that’s counting Tancredo as “serious” when he might be nuttier than Colbert’s character. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-colbert-for-real-could-he-win/424558.md?page=2)