I don´t really understand it:

If he wins in South Carolina, what happens? Does he even have to win any Caucus/Primary?
How do independents become national candidates?
Or what is this about?

Not that I´m believing he will win, but I don´t get what "he only runs in SC" means.

Quote from: SettembriniI don´t really understand it:

If he wins in South Carolina, what happens? Does he even have to win any Caucus/Primary?
How do independents become national candidates?
Or what is this about?

Not that I´m believing he will win, but I don´t get what "he only runs in SC" means.

Sett,

 Its a joke.
 A running gag.

 Either you "get it" or you don't.


- Ed C.

Quote from: SettembriniIf he wins in South Carolina, what happens?

He would send delegates to the party convention.  In the past that would be where the party's candidate would be selected.  Now it's more of a dog and pony show, as the clearcut favorite is established long before the convention.

QuoteDoes he even have to win any Caucus/Primary?

To get on the ballot for the general election?  No.  But he may further mock the system by going through the primary process.

QuoteHow do independents become national candidates?

IIRC each state has its own rules for how you can get on the general election ballot as an independant.  To have a chance of winning, you need to be on enough state ballots to ensure enough electoral votes if you win.  In the general election you do not vote for president.  You vote for a panel of electors, who will go on to vote for president.  In my state the ballot is worded something like "Mark here to vote for electors for Rat F. Bastard".  Some states legally bind the electors to vote the way the people direct, others don't do that but instead make the elector selection based upon primary results, insuring much the same situation.

QuoteOr what is this about?

Campaign as performance piece, as I said upthread.  He's mocking the system the easiest way possible, by using the system.

QuoteNot that I´m believing he will win, but I don´t get what "he only runs in SC" means.

He's only putting himself on the primary ballot in SC.  That mean he can only get convention representation from one state.  It insures that he has no chance of any success beyond possibly sending some folks to the republican and/or democratic national convention.

jrients has the right of it, as far as I can tell.  Being from Illinois as well, I honestly don't remember the wording including the electors, but he could be right.

Having said that, and not being a Colbert watcher, I'm curious as to what, exactly, he's mocking about the system.  Is it the electoral college versus the popular vote?  If that's the case, the primary is meaningless. It's no more than a political party picking who goes on the ballot. Is it the primary process - and if so, what about it?

Don't get me wrong, I think the barriers the parties have built to other entrants are ridiculous.  I'm just curious about what he's mocking.

Quote from: James J SkachDon't get me wrong, I think the barriers the parties have built to other entrants are ridiculous.  I'm just curious about what he's mocking.

Politics, in general.

I heard on some unrelated thing this AM that he has like 2% in the polls; in a statistical tie with Biden, Richardson, Kucinich.  If that's true, now that's comedy gold...

I really appreciate the detailed answer, as it cleared some questions I had regarding the electoral process.

Me too. I've been living here for almost a decade and still don't understand it.