Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesThere's no joking around when it comes to Stephen Colbert.
OK, clearly that's not true, but The Colbert Report host seems to be pretty serious about helping close the funding gap for South Carolina's first-in-the-South GOP presidential primary by putting in $500,000! Now that's serious.
However, there's a catch: The comedian wants the ballot renamed to "The Colbert Super PAC South Carolina Republican Primary."
So was there really a deal in place?
Each side seems to have a different opinion.
Colbert wrote in a guest column for South Carolina's the State, "The GOP agreed to everything."
But state GOP executive director Matt Moore told The Los Angeles Times otherwise in an email, "Stephen Colbert, the private citizen, called out of the clear blue and made an unsolicited offer to help his home state. We were intrigued and met with him, but also wary. We determined it was not in the state party's best interests to accept Mr. Colbert's offers. Everything was not 'agreed to.' We did not sign his proposed contract.
"Despite our repeatedly saying 'no,' Stephen Colbert, the comedian, seems intent on being involved. It's exactly why we were wary in the first place. The state party will not be involved with Stephen Colbert going forward," the statement concludes.
Think that will stop him? Hardly.
"The counties need the money, and Colbert Super PAC wants to give it to you; call it a Christmas Miracle. I've already filled out the check, and to prove it's no joke, I've written 'No Joke' in the memo line. I'm going to be home in South Carolina over the holidays, so just give me a call. Both state parties have my contact info," Colbert wrote.