The Comedy Central star is offering to make up the difference with cash raised by his super PAC – if the state agrees to rename the nominating contest "The Colbert Super PAC South Carolina Republican Primary" and if state residents support his bid to add a non-binding referendum about "corporate personhood" on the ballot that asks voters whether "corporations are people" or "only people are people."

The funding gap exists, in part, because state Republicans have refused to pony up anything above the $180,000 in candidate filing fees they are required to contribute. As a result, election officials say the state may need to run a deficit to hold the nominating contest.