Comedian Colbert campaigns day before SC primary

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- Comedian Stephen Colbert, who says he's running for president of "The United States of South Carolina," is urging voters in Saturday's presidential primary to cast their ballots for former Republican hopeful Herman Cain.

The star of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" appeared with Cain at a rally Friday at the College of Charleston. Colbert told a crowd of more than 3,000 - most of them students - that he's "believed in the message of Herman Cain for several days now."

"Herman Cain is a business leader. Herman Cain is a family man. Herman Cain is an outsider. In fact he's such an outsider he is not even running for president anymore," Colbert gushed.

Colbert, who grew up in South Carolina, dubbed the event the "Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally," complete with cheerleaders, choir, band and, of course, Cain himself.

Cain dropped his bid for the Republican presidential nomination last month after allegations of sexual harassment and a longstanding affair surfaced. His name remains on the South Carolina primary ballot for Saturday's vote.