Stephen Colbert shuts down exploratory bid

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Comedian Stephen Colbert packed in his presidential exploratory committee after his attempt to rally South Carolina voters behind Herman Cain bombed.

Despite Cain receiving a "massive 6,324 votes" in the state's primary Saturday, Colbert said it was time to end his dabbling with a 2012 run, Politico reported.

"It is with a heavy heart and a spastic colon that I'm re-suspending Herman Cain's suspended campaign. Also, I'm hereby officially ending my exploratory committee to run for the president of the United States of South Carolina," Colbert told his audience Monday during "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central.

The funnyman also wondered how he could reclaim control of his super-PAC, which he turned over to colleague and "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart before announcing his exploratory committee.

The Huffington Post posted Stewart's e-mail to "supporters" explaining Colbert's request (in part):

"Today he asked me if he if he could retake control of The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC. I told him, with all due respect, to go take a long walk off a short go-f%¢#-yourself."

"Are you kidding me? This thing is a pile of money, sitting on top of a heap of cash, sitting on top of a mountain of moolah. And I'm going to spend it. But in a legal, responsible way. ..."