Huntsman hopes for 'Colbert bump'

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman tried to goose his campaign with an appearance on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report."

Mired in single-digit polling, the former Utah governor and U.S. ambassador to China visited satirist Stephen Colbert's show Monday, but a joke Huntsman made about China caused the crowd to groan and was deleted from the broadcast, ABC News reported.

"When's the delivery food coming?" Huntsman asked. After a few seconds of silence, Colbert replied, "Did that go over well in Beijing?"

"There was a gasp," audience member Dana Cole told ABC News. "A little tasteless. No one really saw it coming. He got ahead of himself."

Huntsman won back the group after Colbert asked him to say something in Mandarin.

"I just said I'd think you ought to consider being my running mate for vice president," Huntsman said as the crowd erupted into applause.

Huntsman's appearance on the show gave him a chance to introduce himself to Colbert's 18-49 demographic and the possibility of benefiting from the "Colbert bump," his campaign said.

Colbert first coined the "Colbert bump," referencing the success several politicians found after being interviewed on his show, ABC News said. Although there is no direct evidence of an improvement, Professor James Fowler of the University of California-San Diego said he found an appearance on "The Colbert Report" could boost fundraising efforts for certain politicians.

"In recent polls you are at two percent. Are you ready for the Colbert bump?" Colbert asked Huntsman.

"I am so ready for the Colbert bump," Huntsman answered.

"Governor you may be at two percent," Colbert said. "We're going to get you up to whole milk."