Colbert Campaign: Watch Out, Ron Paul

Joshua Green at the Atlantic takes seriously Stephen Colbert's announced joke run for president in both major party primaries in South Carolina, and finds that Ron Paul

should be sweating….Paul's supporters are among the most passionate and committed this cycle. But their profile is similar to that of the voters Colbert might attract. ("Pot smokers," a Republican consultant called them.) Anonymous presidential advisor: "If Colbert wants to do it he's got to convert every young, semi-liberal Ron Paul supporter to the Colbert cause. If a young white male is going to vote, watches Comedy Central, and is internet savvy, chances are he's a Ron Paul supporter."

That's a great insight into what mainstream GOP consultants think of the Paul phenomenon, by the way.