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'Candidates' Spar Over SC Credentials

Colbert, Edwards both claim favorite-son bragging rights

By Jonas Oransky, Newser Staff

Posted Oct 29, 2007 10:55 AM CDT

(Newser) – With Stephen Colbert kicking off his presidential campaign spoof in South Carolina yesterday, things got a little heated between the Comedy Central star and John Edwards, the state's other favorite-son contender. Colbert accused Edwards of having abandoned the Palmetto State at the age of 1; the Edwards folks shot back that their man learned to talk there, learned to walk there, and would “kick Stephen Colbert's New York City butt” there.

Then they indulged a little tongue-in-cheek rhetoric: "The truthiness is, as the candidate of Doritos, Colbert's hands are stained by corporate corruption and nacho cheese," the campaign said in a release. "John Edwards has never taken a dime from salty food lobbyists and America deserves a president who isn't in the pocket of the snack food special interests."

Steve Colbert, host of "The Colbert Report" wipes his face as he waits in the White House Press Briefing room at the White House in Washington, Friday, July 27, 2007, for White House Press Secretary... (Associated Press)

Stephen Colbert arrives at a dinner to celebrate Time 100, Time Magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in this, May 8, 2006, file photo in New York. The host of "The Colbert... (Associated Press)

Democratic presidential hopeful, former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, listens to questions during a campaign stop at Laconia High School in Laconia, N.H., Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007.(AP Photo/Jim Cole) (Associated Press)

Steve Colbert, host of "The Colbert Report" waits in the White House Press Briefing room in Washington, Friday, July 27, 2007, for White House Press Secretary Tony Snow to sign his cast. Colbert broke... (Associated Press)

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'Candidates' Spar Over SC Credentials

Colbert, Edwards both claim favorite-son bragging rights

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