Campaign launched to draft Colbert for Senate

Sen. Stephen Colbert?

A new Twitter account -- @ColbertforSC -- was launched Thursday morning after GOP Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina announced he will resign to become president of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

The Twitter account links to a Draft Colbert for U.S. Senate website, that says it is not affiliated with the Comedy Central host. Matt Ortega, a digital specialist for a communications firm in Washington, tweeted that he created the website.

A spokeswoman for Colbert said the comedian and political satirist is flattered.

"Stephen is honored by the groundswell of support from the Palmetto State and looks forward to Gov. Haley's call," Carrie Byalick, a Colbert spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.

DeMint will depart the Senate in January. Gov. Nikki Haley, a Republican, will appoint a replacement who will serve until a special election in 2014.

The first tweet from @ColbertforSC said: "Reporting for duty, South Carolina!"

Colbert, a South Carolina native, has run twice for president. Last year, he won approval for a super PAC -- the political action committees that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money in campaigns.Through the super PAC, Colbert raised awareness about political issues and held a mock presidential rally with Herman Cain during South Carolina's GOP primary.

Among other tweets so far on the new Twitter account:

"I will be laying out my 9 point plan for bear self-deportation shortly. In the meantime, kick a bear because Freedom."

USA Today