Colbert's '08 Campaign Comes to an End, Are Obama Supporters Responsible?

This post, written by Melissa McEwan, originally appeared on Shakesville

And a great wailing and gnashing of teeth arose from the Colbert Nation:

Stephen Colbert has dropped his bid for the White House.

His announcement came after the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council voted last week to keep the host of "The Colbert Report" off the state's primary ballot. The vote was 13-3.

..."Although I lost by the slimmest margin in presidential election history--only 10 votes--I have chosen not to put the country through another agonizing Supreme Court battle," Colbert said Monday in a statement. "It is time for this nation to heal."

..."I want to say to my supporters, this is not over," Colbert said. "While I may accept the decision of the Council, the fight goes on! The dream endures! ... And I am going off the air until I can talk about this without weeping."

If you need me, I'll be watching Strangers with Candy reruns and quietly sobbing.UPDATE: Top Obama Supporters Pushed To Keep Colbert Off Ballot

Two prominent supporters of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign in South Carolina called state Democratic Party officials urging them to oppose putting comedian Stephen Colbert's name on the primary ballot, according to party officials and Obama supporters with knowledge of the calls.

Colbert, the host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report," saw his hopes to be placed on the primary ballot ended last week when the South Carolina Democratic Party executive council voted 13-3 to block his bid, with the majority of voters saying he was not a viable enough candidate to be included in the primary.