South Carolina voters want late night comedian Stephen
Colbert to replace resigning Sen. Jim DeMint, according to a recent poll from
Public Policy Polling.
The Democratic-leaning pollster's results say 20 percent of
South Carolinians back Colbert to fill DeMint's seat.
The poll comes on the heels of a grassroots campaign to have
Gov. Nikki Haley to appoint the comedian and host of The Colbert Report to the
Senate seat.
"It's Democrats and independents
-- those voters Haley most needs to improve her standing with -- who are pining
for a Colbert appointment," said a news release from the polling group.
Colbert, who seems to be aware of the effort, told viewers
on his show Thursday night to call, tweet, and email Haley and tell her to
appoint him.
Haley appeared to dismiss the notion of appointing Colbert
in a Facebook post on Friday.
"Stephen,
thank you for your interest in South Carolina's U.S. Senate seat and for the
thousands of tweets you and your fans sent me," said Haley. "But you forget one
thing, my friend. You didn't know our state drink. Big, big mistake."
Colbert
aside, several other big names in the South Carolina political world receive
support from voters on the poll.
Rep. Tim
Scott, DeMint's supposed handpicked choice, comes in second place with 15
percent of support, but in a poll without Colbert, Scott edges out everyone in
GOP voters' minds.
"In all three permutations
of the field we tested, Tim Scott comes out as the top choice among
Republicans," said the poll.
Also
appearing on the list in fourth place is former first lady Jenny Sanford with
11 percent of support.
In another
poll without Colbert's name in the field, Sanford comes out on top of the
crowded list.
"Sanford becomes the first
choice of both Democrats and independents without Colbert in the mix and is
particularly strong with women – 24 percent of whom think she should receive
the appointment," said the poll.
State law says the governor must
appoint someone to DeMint's empty seat. The appointee will keep the seat warm
until 2014 when a special election is held.
Copyright 2012 WIS. All rights reserved.
Comedian Stephen Colbert has asked his fans to call Gov. Nikki Haley about the appointment.
