Comic relief on the campaign trail

Comic relief on the campaign trail.
On the eve of the South Carolina Republican primary, television comedian Stephen Colbert stages a raucous mock campaign event that drew thousands of fans and the support of one time candidate Herman Cain, who is no longer running for President.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN COLBERT, COMEDIAN, SAYING:
"It's good to be back home."
The host of "The Colbert Report" on Comedy Central, promised not to go negative.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) STEPHEN COLBERT, COMEDIAN, SAYING:
"I won't be saying things like the only difference between Mitt Romney and a statue of Mitt Romney is that a statue never changes his position, that's not positive, not even to the statue. And it would be wrong to say that if you guess Ron Paul's real name he has to teach you how to spin straw into gold, I am not going to do it. And I am not going to answer the gotcha question, am I interested in an open marriage, though
I am flattered that Newt Gingrich asked me. You see I didn't come here to criticize anyone, I came here go praise one man, one Herman, important note, a Herman is not the same as a she male. I don't want to frighten off any Santorum supporters."
Cain, the former pizza executive says he welcomed Colbert's invitation.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) HERMAN CAIN, FORMER REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SAYING:
"America needs to learn how to lighten up, they really need to learn how to lighten up, because this event that was conceived by Stephen Colbert and his staff, helps to bring attention to the crisis of the situation that we are in. Every vote counts."
They won support from the crowd.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) AMANDA MERRITT, SOPHOMORE, SKIPPED TWO CLASSES TO ATTEND, INDEPENDENT, SAYING:
"He knows that we are just kind of looking for a common sense kind of thing and this is kind of like poking fun at the whole political process and it would make us more interested if there was more poking fun because it gets so serious and we just need more fun in the political system."
(SOUNDBITE) (English) BROOK FOX, CHARLESTON RESIDENT, MUSEUM ARCHIVIST, DEMOCRAT, SAYING:
"I love Stephen Colbert and I am going to vote for Herman Cain because of him."
The South Carolina primary takes place Saturday January 21st.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters