Colbert drops presidential candidacy
(AP) --
NEW YORK (AP) - The presidential bid of Stephen Colbert (kohl-BEHR') is over.
He made the announcement today after South Carolina Democratic party officials voted last week to keep the TV comedian off of the state's primary ballot.
The vote was 13-3. So, Colbert now says he "lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history -- only 10 votes."
Despite that slim margin, he says he chose "not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle." Instead, he says, "It is time for this nation to heal."
The host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report (ree-POHR')" had said he would run only in his native South Carolina -- as both a Democrat and a Republican, so he could lose twice. He later decided not to file with the GOP, which has a much higher filing fee.
Colbert poses as a conservative talk-show host on his show.
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