Stephen Colbert's presidential campaign appears to have come to an abrupt halt after South Carolina Democrats denied his request to be placed on the presidential primary ballot. He did not try getting on the Republican ballot because it would have cost $35,000.

The party's Democratic council said Colbert wasn't a serious candidate and questioned his viability, never mind the fact that he's polling fifth nationally among Democrats. (Maybe if he were to start talking about UFOs or throwing rocks into ponds, he'd be considered more viable.)

Colbert took his campaign to Charleston, South Carolina, earlier this week, where he was given a hero's welcome and the keys to the city.

"I promise, if elected, I will crush the state of Georgia," Colbert told the crowd. "Our peaches are more numerous than Georgia's. They are more juiciful."

Watch video clips of Colbert campaigning in South Carolina and reacting to the news that he won't be on the ballot.

• Related: Colbert for President | Colbert Report Videos | 2008 Campaign Humor