Stephen Colbert thrilled a screaming, partisan audience at the University of South Carolina horshoe in Columbia today, as he launched his native son candidacy for president. Proving himself to be a cunning politician right away, Mr. Colbert sent the adoring throngs into hysterics as he proclaimed South Carolina peaches to be fuzzier than those from Georgia.

Columbia, South Carolina Mayor Bob Coble presented Colbert a key to the city and declared him South Carolina's "favorite son" while officially proclaiming October 28th to be  Stephen Colbert day. The evanglical base that Colbert will depend on was there in force, holding up signs that said, "Colbert. Christ. Favorite Sons '08."

Colbert modestly said he was honored to receive the key to the city and said he "loves South Carolina, almost as much as South Carolina loves" him. However, dirty politics hit the front pages right-away with the Colbert and Edwards campaigns embroiled in a controversy about their respective candidates hair. The Edwards' campaign describing John's hair as "naturally fluffy" while Colbert's was portrayed as being "very stiff."

Stay tuned.