A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that [Stephen] Colbert is preferred by 13% of voters as an independent candidate challenging Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Rudy Giuliani. The survey was conducted shortly after Colbert’s surprise announcement that he is lusting for the Oval Office.

The result is similar when Fred Thompson is the Republican in the three-way race. With Thompson as the GOP candidate, Colbert earns 12% of the vote.

. . .

Colbert does particularly well with the younger voters most likely to be watching his show and therefore most aware of his myriad presidential-like qualities. In the match-up with Giuliani and Clinton, Colbert draws 28% of likely voters aged 18-29. He draws 31% of that cohort when his foes are Thompson and Clinton. In both match-ups, Colbert has more support with young voters than the GOP candidate.

Pollster.com notes that Colbert is actually pulling votes away from Guiliani rather than Hillary. What gives? Maybe the Repubs actually think he’s the crazy conservative talking head that he acts like on his show.

But what about a match-up between Colbert and the guy who made him famous, Jon Stewart?

An earlier survey found that only 8% of Americans say they would definitely vote for comedian Jon Stewart if he was on the ballot in 2008. Just 38% say they would definitely vote against Stewart. It may be worth noting that the comedian outperformed Katie Couric on this point—62% of American voters would definitely vote against the CBS news anchor.

Poor Katie. Or, actually, Pour Katie a drink. And then send her to my house.

[Hotel Tango: Pollster.com]