Scholar details Colbert contribution bump

LA JOLLA, Calif., Aug. 13 (UPI) -- A study shows that being made light of on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report" pays off for Democratic politicians in the form of campaign contributions.

The study by political scientist James Fowler at the University of California, San Diego found donations to the Democrats jumped 40 percent in the month following a guest shot by a prominent Democratic figure.

Fowler concluded Democrats who appeared on Colbert raised more than $8,000 in the following month compared to Democrats who were not on the show.

The Hill said Wednesday Fowler's findings also indicate Republicans received no financial bump after enduring the quips and digs of host Stephen Colbert.

The findings were interesting enough to be published in the journal "PS: Political Science Politics," although Fowler told the Hill it was "important not to read too much into these results."