Colbert wins — as Celebrity of the Year

(AP) — He couldn’t get elected president, but Stephen Colbert has been voted The Associated Press Celebrity of the Year.

The votes came from newspaper editors and broadcast producers who decided the South Carolinian Colbert had the biggest impact on pop culture in 2007.

The mock pundit on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” put together an ill-fated run for president. He couldn’t get on the ballot in South Carolina.

His show went 0-for-4 at the Emmys. But his book, “I Am America And So Can You” topped the best-seller lists.

Colbert finished just ahead of another author, Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling. The final book in her series came out this year. Al Gore was third.

Colbert says he’s pleased to be chosen ahead of “two great spinners of fantasy,” as he described them.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)