Stephen Colbert announces candidacy to become President of South Carolina

Update: It looks like Colbert's folks have indeed been taking this seriously and have been researching the protocol for weeks. This should make for the most exciting primaries South Carolina has ever seen ... not that the bar is likely set terribly high or anything ...

It's official: comedian Stephen Colbert is through the looking glass. Last night in a crossover stunt, Colbert told Jon Stewart on The Daily Show that he's entertaining the idea of running for President in 2008 but that if he were to announce it he'd do so on a "more prestigious show."

Minutes later, Colbert announced on The Colbert Report that he is officially running for President in his home state of South Carolina. I have no idea how this is going to work, but I hope that the show's lawyers get hazard pay.

He also has yet to pick a running mate ... may I suggest Jerri Blank? Or Brian Williams?

Bears, be warned. Gay bears, rejoice! Both can check out the clip after the jump...