'Colbert Bump' Real, at Least for Dems

Stephen Colbert and his fans often point to a “Colbert bump”—a boost for politicians who appear on his show—and research shows there’s truthiness to the claim, LiveScience reports. A scientist found that Democrats appearing on the Colbert Report raised 44% more funds afterward. Republicans, however, fared no differently or slightly worse.

The party difference, the researcher said, probably stems from the fact that Republicans who go on the show are successful and ready to withstand Colbert’s jibes, while Dems who appear are usually not doing well and see an opportunity rather than a risk in being teased. After a candidate who declined to appear on his show lost a 2006 congressional election, Colbert said, “She could've gotten the 'Colbert bump,' instead she got the 'Colbert dump.'” And a legend was born. (More Stephen Colbert stories.)