QandAs: Buzz

Is Stephen Colbert really running for president?

Answer:
Yes. The host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report"

announced on Oct. 16 that he's going to run for president of the United States. Given that Stephen Colbert rarely breaks character on his show, a lot of people didn't take his announcement seriously, until it received play on the evening news programs.

As he declared on his show Tuesday night, "I have heard the call. Nation, I shall seek the office of the president of the United States."

As pundits and candidates alike struggle to put the announcement into political perspective, Stephen Colbert's staff has already begun the process of filing the paperwork that will make him an official candidate in his home state of South Carolina.

Stephen Colbert has said he wants to run in both the Democratic and Republican primaries, a task that may prove difficult. GOP candidates must pay about $35,000 to get on the ballot in South Carolina. He won't find things much simpler on the democratic side of the fence. Candidates must demonstrate that they are "actively" campaigning in the state. Democratics also aren't likely to allow a candidate to campaign for both parties.

Sen. John McCain joked that Colbert would be wise to join the debates in order to "reach a wider audience than that narrow little sliver that watches his show."

Sen. Barack Obama also took a few shots at the comedian turned candidate.

"If he's from South Carolina, he wasn't really down-home South Carolina — that's my impression," Obama said. "I can't picture Stephen eating grits, but who knows?"