The South Carolina Democratic Party rejected on Thursday Stephen Colbert’s candidacy to the ballots.

Stephen Colbert hosts “The Colbert report” on Comedy Central.

He is from South Carolina and he thought that this is the only state where he could get on the ballot. He paid $2,500 filing fee on Thursday afternoon just before deadline. He said that he doesn’t want to run for the presidency, just to run in his native state.

After 40 minutes the party officials decided that he is not suitable to be a candidate. The executive council voted 13 to 3 to keep him out.

According to Carol Fowler, chairwoman of the state’s Democratic Party, he didn’t meet the basic requirements of a candidate and that is to be known as a viable nationwide candidate and to campaign for the state’s primary.

His supporter said that his candidacy brought an amusing side to the presidential politics and revealed its follies.

Critics on the other hand said that his candidacy was a self-promotional distraction only to draw news media attention away from the serious campaign.

New York Times quoted Ms. Fowler saying: “The council really agonized over this because they really like him, they love his show, and everyone thinks it’s wonderful that he cares about us.” She also said that the check will be returned to Mr. Colbert and that a candidate can be refused even if he is a nationally recognized person and it is actively campaigning.

According to a party official Colbert tried to file for the Republican ballot as well and to pay a $ 35,000 fee until Thursday when the deadline was settled.

He said that he will run for both South Carolina primaries so that he would like to lose twice.

Mr. Colbert was not reached for a comment.