PoliTick-Tock

Colbert destroys Obama in sand

Comedian Stephen Colbert gave Myrtle Beach another burst of publicity Friday night with a segment featuring the Democratic sand sculpture that sat outside The Palace Theatre.

The bit compared each verbal blow Sens. Hillary Clinton and John Edwards levied against Sen. Barack Obama in Monday's debate to a physical attack on his face on the sand sculpture.

The Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce offered up the sand sculptures to The Colbert Report as a sacrifice before the Republican debate on Jan. 10 to try to get as much publicity out of them as possible. They were paid for by local business sponsors.

To see the clip, check out the video titled South Carolina's Primary on the show's Web site.

He did not use shots of the Republican sculpture being destroyed, or a shot of his own face in sand.

The Colbert Report to feature MB

They've already been featured in newspapers in Australia and across the country, and online at tmz.com and wsj.com.

Now, the sand sculptures will reach a new nation: Colbert Nation.

Comedian Stephen Colbert, named South Carolina's "favorite son," will have a segment featuring the sand castles on his show Thursday night, according to the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

He'll show footage of the Republican and Democratic sand sculptures being destroyed, as well as a shot of a sculpture of his own face, specially built in Myrtle Beach for the show.

The footage was taped on Tuesday.

The S.C. Democratic Party prevented Colbert from getting on the primary ballot last year during his "run" for president.

Weekend roundup

There were a couple of interesting political tidbits in The Sun News over the weekend, but I didn't get a chance to post them because I was busy working on the story about that awful fire in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.

Here ya go:

• Katherine Jenerette spoke out in support of her husband Van Jenerette, who has been accused of molesting his step-daughter years ago, an in interview with The Sun News' Jonathan Tressler. He posted bail.
• The State's departing star Aaron Gould Sheinin had a story about payday lenders donating to presidential candidates. (That's from today.)
• The Sun News' Jason M. Rodriguez gives a preview of the race in Carolina Shores, N.C.
• McClatchy Newspapers' Steven Thomma wrote about Republican candidates' tactics in primary and general elections.
• The Sun News' Janelle Frost previewed the race in North Myrtle Beach.
• And, of course, we ran the story about Stephen Colbert's visit to Columbia where he accepted the key to the city and got a day named after him.

Romney for S.C. delegates - if Iowa and N.H. stay first

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney said this morning he would like to see all delegates seated at the Republican National Convention - provided Iowa and New Hampshire keep their historic role in the primary process.

After meeting with about 100 people at a Myrtle Beach doughnut shop, Romney, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts, responded to a press question about the national party's threat to yank delegates from states like South Carolina that broke party rules by moving their primaries ahead of schedule.

Romney hedged, saying he hasn't heard the full details of the party's threat yet and did not want to comment on hypotheticals, but he also said he wanted to see all the delegates seated if Iowa has its caucus first and New Hampshire's primary comes second.

He also spoke about his gaffe mixing up the names Osama bin Laden and Barack Obama, as well as commented on what he thought of the prospect of Stephen Colbert as a running mate.

Filing begins today for Dem hopefuls in S.C.

Got $2,500 or signatures from 3,000 registered S.C. voters? You, too, can run for president on the Democratic ticket.

Today is the first day that presidential hopefuls can file to be on the S.C. Democratic primary ballot.

Filing ends at noon on Nov. 1.

Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards filed today, according to S.C. Democratic Party spokesman Joe Werner.

 

(For those of you wondering, the party has not yet heard from Stephen Colbert.)

Rhodes for America?

Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes may well yet seek a higher office.

Inspired by Stephen Colbert, Rhodes today pondered ditching life on the Redneck Riviera for a lunge at the White House.

"Maybe I should throw my name into the hat," he said in a telephone interview. "Would you be my campaign manager? I’m only going to run in Myrtle Beach."

Wait, Mr. Mayor, didn't you already endorse Rudy Giuliani?

"He’d surrender," Rhodes said.

Rhodes' predecessor, Mark McBride, set a precedent for Myrtle Beach mayors seeking the national stage with his ill-fated stab at a U.S. Senate seat.

Thinking it over, he decided against it.

"I don’t have the statue," he said. "That and the hair."

MB welcomes Colbert - if he pays

Myrtle Beach would welcome faux presidential candidate Stephen Colbert with open arms - and open pockets, local chamber president Brad Dean said.

Colbert recently announced on his late-night comedy show that he was running for president. He asked South Carolinians for their support, because he needs signatures to get on the South Carolina Democratic ballot.

"We welcome anyone and everyone to Myrtle Beach for the debates, including Stephen Colbert - if they are spending money on accommodations,'' Dean wrote in an e-mail.

"Demonstrators who plan to sleep in their vans are encouraged to attend the New Hampshire debate," he continued. "And, can you imagine this scene: Mayor John Rhodes and Stephen Colbert talking politics at one of the mayor’s favorite establishments?"

Myrtle Beach will be the host for two debates in January - one Democratic on Jan. 17 and one Republican on Jan. 10.

Colbert pleas for S.C. support

Stephen Colbert, late-nite faux news host extraordinaire, has announced his candidacy for president and is looking for signatures from his home state of South Carolina to get him on the Democratic ballot here.

The Republican ballot, he said, cost $25,000 plus a $10,000 late fee, so he's looking for sponsors. Both forms are supposed to be on his Web site Thursday, he said on Wednesday's show.

On the show, Colbert was infuriated by a New York Times article on John Edwards' strategy of claiming his South Carolinian Roots. While Edwards may be S.C.'s "native son," Colbert said he is the state's "favorite son."

Later in the show he attempted to make a fruit smoothie out of a Berenstain Bears book.

No word yet on whether he will be participating in either of the Myrtle Beach debates.