Stephen Colbert's presidential campaign saga has an interesting new twist.
The comedian and host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" will hold a rally in South Carolina this Friday with former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain. The event will be entitled "THE ROCK ME LIKE A HERMAN CAIN: SOUTH CAIN-OLINA PRIMARY RALLY." In the press release for the rally, Colbert explains, "Herman is the only former candidate who truly shares my values. It's like our values were separated at birth. And our ethics are at least first cousins."
Earlier this week, The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC released an ad urging South Carolinians to vote for Herman Cain in the state's GOP primary. The ad jokingly makes it appear as if Colbert is Cain (the former Godfather's Pizza CEO does not appear anywhere in the video). A previous HuffPost report explains the rationale behind the Colbert-Cain confusion:
Colbert took to his show earlier this week, amid news that it would be impossible for him to get on the primary ballot this Saturday, and attempted to create a proxy candidacy for himself by using Cain's name, which will appear on the ballot.
"Because Cain and I are so similar, I think that if this Saturday Herman Cain were to get a significant number of votes, that would be a sign that voters are hungry for a Stephen Colbert campaign," he announced.
As it turns out, Cain is in on the joke. Kathy Hoekstra, Cain's director of media relations, was quoted by Fox News as saying, "Colbert's people got in touch with us late last week and Mr. Cain will be taping a segment with Mr. Colbert on Friday in South Carolina." She continued, "The endorsement of course comes as a pleasant surprise."
Cain also weighed in, telling Fox411, "On Stephen Colbert's endorsement of himself as Herman Cain, I find it very clever and humorous, as it should be." The former Republican contender dismissed the criticisms of those who might be offended by Colbert's actions. "Anyone who finds what Mr. Colbert is doing offensive, should simply lighten up. To be perfectly clear, I will not be assuming Stephen Colbert's identity. We are very different when it comes to the color of our - hair," said Cain.
The full press release for the Colbert-Cain rally can be found below (via BuzzFeed):
FOR IMMEDIATE catch & RELEASE
STEPHEN COLBERT ASKS SOUTH CAROLINA TO
"ROCK ME LIKE A HERMAN CAIN!"
Attention world, particularly the South Carolina part:
NEW YORK CAROLINA -- For a week now, Stephen Colbert has been calling on South Carolinians who share his values to vote for Herman Cain during this Saturday's historic GOP primary. Actually, he hasn't called on all South Carolinians yet; he's only up to "Brabham" in the Charleston phonebook.
Jr. Exploratory Committee Chairman Stephen T. Colbert said of Cain: "Herman is the only former candidate who truly shares my values. It's like our values were separated at birth. And our ethics are at least first cousins."
In support of their non-candidacies, this Friday, January 20th at 1:00 P.M. at the Cistern in front of historic Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston, Colbert and Cain will co-hold "THE ROCK ME LIKE A HERMAN CAIN: SOUTH CAIN-OLINA PRIMARY RALLY." The area will open to guests starting at noon.
Together, these two unique voices will declare that they are the same man. Indeed, if you close your eyes and don't listen, they are hard to tell apart.
"As with all my appearances on college campuses, I expect to receive an honorary degree," said the Peabody Award-winning Grammy winner. "This time, I'm hoping for a Masters of Bachelors."
Colbert said he wants "all undecided voters to vote for Cain," adding, "9-9-9."
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