Colbert, Cain arrive to large crowd at College of Charleston rally

A marching band, a choir and a throng of screaming fans welcomed comedian Stephen Colbert and former GOP candidate Herman Cain to the College of Charleston Cistern.

Colbert, dressed in a suit, followed the College of Charleston's pep band and cheerleaders and the Coastal Carolina marching band as it played "This Little Light of Mine." Once at the dais, he joined the choir in singing the "Star Spangled Banner."

The crowd chanted "USA, USA, USA."

"Do not sit down, because there are no chairs," Colbert said.

Colbert poked fun at the remaining candidates and Cain himself.

"He's a man with ideas, a man with conviction, a man with a bus with his face on it," he said.

Cain took the microphone and took a more stump-speech tone for a few minutes before breaking into song, refusing to let Colbert "steal the show."

Lines began forming at the College of Charleston three hours before the “Rock Me Like a Herman Cain South Cain-olina Primary Rally.”

Charleston’s favorite comedian created the rally to encourage folks to vote for the former GOP presidential candidate in Saturday’s primary. Cain, who on Thursday endorsed “the people” instead of the remaining candidates, is along for the ride.

The event is more satirical than political but the college is expecting a large audience.

“Students are a little over-excited about it. We anticipate a big crowd,” college spokesman Mike Robertson said.

Robertson said the Cistern Yard will be closed this morning so people who want to attend the free event can line up on the sidewalk. Gates open at noon.

There won’t be any chairs at the event, which means more people can be squeezed into the Cistern Yard, he said. People will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis.