'We came in number one – percent!' Colbert told fans, referring to South Carolina. Colbert stuns fans, ends W. H. bid

Monday marked a bitter day for Stephen Colbert and his fans. After his attempt to rally South Carolina voters behind Herman Cain flopped over the weekend, the comedian announced on “The Colbert Report” Monday night that he was officially ending his presidential exploratory committee.

“I urged South Carolinians to vote for me by voting for Herman Cain. And when all the votes were counted, we came in number one – percent!” Colbert told his fans.


Despite the “massive 6,324 votes” Cain received in the state’s primary, getting more votes than Jon Huntsman, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann (“everyone who was no longer trying to win”), Colbert said it was time for his exploration of a 2012 run to come to an end.

“It is with a heavy heart and a spastic colon that I’m re-suspending Herman Cain’s suspended campaign. Also, I’m hereby officially ending my exploratory committee to run for the president of the United States of South Carolina,” Colbert announced to a disappointed audience.

“So, now that my exploration has come to an end, who knows what I’m going to do. Maybe I’ll be like Herman Cain and hit the road in a bus with my face on it,” he said.

Unfortunately, Colbert’s attempt to retake control of his super PAC, which he had handed over to colleague Jon Stewart before announcing his exploratory committee, proved to be unsuccessful.

“Jon, what is going on? … Remember how we didn’t coordinate that you would give it back to me if I decided not to run?” Colbert asked “The Daily Show” host, only to be met with a middle finger.