Stephen Colbert breaks character to discuss 2012 presidential race

Stephen Colbert stopped by the "Morning Joe" set at the Mills Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina on Friday to promote his afternoon rally with Herman Cain. And for a few brief moments, Colbert broke character while discussing the 2012 Republican race--and the fact that voters in South Carolina are not allowed to submit write-ins in the primary.

"I think anybody should be allowed to be written in anywhere," the "Colbert Report" host said. "That's just freedom, that's just freedom."

Colbert, who is from South Carolina, also stepped out of his faux conservative talk-show persona to assess the race in his home state.

"Forty-one percent of South Carolinians are not satisfied with their choices," Colbert said. "I don't think that's good news."

He was also asked who he'd endorse among the four remaining GOP candidates: "I really like Ron Paul, I really do. He's intellectually consistent," he said. "He says the same thing on Monday that he does on Sunday. He doesn't change with the winds."

Colbert, who is actually polling ahead of at least one GOP candidate in a national poll, said he's not sure why he has not been asked to participate in any of the GOP debates.

"I don't understand it," Colbert said. "I'm polling at 13 percent nationally in a three-way race between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama." According to the same poll, Colbert has a higher favorability rating among would-be voters than any of the GOP candidates.

Of course, Colbert's appearance on MSNBC wasn't without its share of zingers.

"I don't understand how you can be 'Morning Joe Brought to You by Starbucks,'" Colbert told "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough. "Because whenever I see you, you seem like 'Evening Joe Brought to You by Jack Daniels.'"

Colbert was also asked what he thought would be the best way to broach the "open marriage" subject with one's spouse.

"Honey I'd like to bang someone new," Colbert suggested.

Watch Colbert's full "Morning Joe" appearance below:

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