Colbert's official sponsor was Doritos brand tortilla chips. In an October 26, 2007 appearance at Cornell University, Colbert declared that, if elected, he would be "as good for the country as Doritos are for your body."Sanders, Topher (October 27, 2007). Colbert gets out of character at CU. The Ithaca Journal. Retrieved on 2007 – 27-10. Colbert's campaign was initially called the "Hail To The Cheese Stephen Colbert's Nacho Cheese Doritos 2008 Presidential Campaign," until he was advised that the finances obtained from Doritos could legally be used to fund only his television show's coverage of the campaign, rather than the campaign itself. Colbert responded by adding the word "Coverage" to the title. Some commentators argued that such distinctions could have had serious legal ramifications for Colbert irrespective of how serious his campaign effort was.Klein, Rick (October 24, 2007). No Joke: Colbert's Campaign May Run Afoul of Law. ABC News. Retrieved on 2007 – 26-10.The Editorial Board (October 24, 2007). Stephen Colbert Is Running–And Not Everyone’s Laughing. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2007 – 27-10. In order to avoid breaking election laws and maintain the distinction between coverage and activism, Colbert had to move a petition for South Carolina Democrats to sign from his show's website to an independent website that is not affiliated with his show.Vogel, Kenneth (October 19, 2007). Colbert 'run' risks breaking law. The Politico. Retrieved on 2007 – 20-10.Goldberg, Scott (October 24, 2007). The Colbert Presidential Run Might Find Legal Trouble . Digital Media Wire. Retrieved on 2007 – 27-10.Curran, Nick (October 18, 2007). Does 'Colbert '08' Break Federal Law? . Radar. Retrieved on 2007 – 27-10.Lapidos, Juliet (October 23, 2007). Is Stephen Colbert Breaking the Law?. Slate. Retrieved on 2007 – 28-10. A spokesperson for Comedy Central, the network hosting The Colbert Report, stated that, based on "the law, prior rulings made by the Federal Election Commission and advice of expert outside counsel", there was nothing in the run that ran contrary to federal campaign election laws.Brusk, Steve (October 25, 2007). Comedy Central: Colbert presidential run is legal. CNN. Retrieved on 2007 – 26-10.Goldberg, Scott (October 26, 2007). Comedy Central Moves Forward with the Colbert Campaign . Digital Media Wire. Retrieved on 2007 – 27-10.
