Comedian Stephen Colbert tried yet again to get his name on South Carolina’s presidential primary ballot — only this time he wanted to sponsor the Republican contest. GOP officials in the state said they met with Colbert several times this fall to discuss a potential sponsorship of the first-in-the-South Republican primary. Colbert offered more than $100,000 to name the contest the “The Colbert Nation Super PAC Presidential Primary.”
The Republican Party has been scrambling to raise nearly $800,000 needed for the primary, but they have said they will be able to do it. Also, several counties sued challenging the state’s right to hold the primary at all, but last month the state Supreme Court green-lighted the balloting. GOP officials said that decision ended discussions with Colbert.
“Stephen Colbert, the world’s most famous living South Carolinian, approached the party with a sponsorship opportunity,” executive director Matt Moore said. “The party respectfully declined. We wish Mr. Colbert nothing but the best.”
Colbert also sought naming rights for a debate several days before the Jan. 21 primary, but Fox News Channel holds the exclusive rights.
In 2008, Colbert, who is from Charleston and plays a conservative TV pundit on “The Colbert Report,” announced his candidacy for both of South Carolina’s presidential primaries. Democrats squashed his bid, and he didn’t follow through on his bid to run as a Republican.
Full Article: SC Republicans met with Colbert over rights to rename presidential primary after comedian – The Washington Post.