Colbert won't be on primary ballot

COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 1 (UPI) -- TV satirist Stephen Colbert will not be on the ballot for the South Carolina Democratic party's presidential primary, it was reported Thursday

The party's 20-member executive committee voted 13-3 not to include Colbert on the ballot for the primary scheduled for Jan. 26, The New York Times said.

The host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report," who is a South Carolina native, had the papers and check for his $2,500 application fee delivered Thursday morning, less than an hour before the filing deadline.

Colbert reportedly considered running for office on the South Carolina Republican Party's primary ballot, as well, but balked at the Republicans' $25,000 filing fee, thestate.com said.

Carol Fowler, chairwoman of the state Democratic party, told the Times the party "really agonized over this because they really like him, they love his show and everyone thinks it's wonderful that he cares about us."

However, they decided not to select him because he failed to fulfill two basic criteria -- be acknowledged by the press as a viable nationwide candidate and be actively campaigning for the South Carolina primary.

There is some good news for Colbert, though; he will get his check for the filling fee back.