Colbert PAC launches 'Cain' ad

COLUMBIA, S.C., Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Comedian Stephen Colbert may not be on the ballot for Saturday's primary in South Carolina, but that doesn't mean he isn't trying to exert influence.

Colbert's super-political action committee is urging supporters back Herman Cain, the Georgia businessman who suspended his campaign in December after allegations of a series of sexual improprieties arose, The Hill reported.

"The people of South Carolina are frustrated. It's less than a week before the election, and there's still no candidate for us. Plus, the economy," the narrator says. "Thankfully, there is still a name on the ballot that stands for true American-imity: Herman Cain."

But instead of an image of Cain, an image of Colbert appears with an arrow and text reading "This guy."

The ad urges supporters to "on January 21st, vote Herman Cain" while showing images of Colbert running toward the ocean and holding a fish against a mountain top backdrop, closing with a shot focused on Colbert's face. Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," stares into the camera as he slowly smiles, similar to Cain's closing shots when he ran some widely lampooned ads.

Colbert's foray into presidential politics largely is a send-up of the super PAC system that allows limitless contributions to organizations loosely affiliated with candidates.