Evening Buzz: Joe the No Show
Maureen Miller
AC360° Writer
Where's Joe Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber? He didn't show up at a McCain event today in Ohio.
It was a bit of an awkward moment for the GOP candidate. Today, Wurzelbacher was MIA when McCain called for him in the crowd in Defiance, Ohio. But he did show up later in the day at two other events.
Could the "Joe the Plumber" mantra backfire for the McCain camp? We'll dig into that tonight on 360.
We'll also take you on the trail to a live Obama rally at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
And, we're tracking the latest poll numbers. At one point today, the CNN poll-of-national polls showed Obama with just a 5 percentage points lead over McCain. Now we're back at a 7-point difference. Oh, what a difference a couple of hours makes in this campaign.
A lot of ground to cover tonight. We're two hours live.
Hope you can join us at 10pm ET.
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Filed under: Maureen Miller • The Buzz |
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Does anyone other than myself believe that Joe the Plumber was a plant by the McCain camp or is there info I don't have to prove me wrong? I find it curious that he asked a leading question with false information and flat out lies about himself that in my opinion set Obama up for the answer he gave, and now he is on the campaign trail with McCain and Palin. Is this odd to anyone other than me?
If you cannot run a campaign, how can you run the whitehouse, McCain??
Wow Joe is campaigning with them doesn't McCain realizes that this will be the presidental campaign that will go down in history as the most embarrassing to americans public ? This is serious stuff this for the president of the United States not for a reality show I thought that John Mcain said that he love this country and yet his disrespect for us Americans . It is not funny anymore why doesn't someone say something to this man and yes I agree that Joe was a setup for what purpose I don't know ? If people say that Obama lied about the money how does that compare with Mcain's stratagey his wife has a fortune if he really cared about all of americans we deserve a serious campaign the world is watching and laughing do you hear them Mr Mcain .
I think the bigger story here was that McCain had high school students from surrounding schools shipped in to to fill out the crowd! Something like 4000 of the 6000 were bused in students.
What?! – that's worse than Joe "the faux" Plumber not showing up.
posted by June: October 30th, 2008 9:29 pm ET
What’s the possibility that “Joe the (non)Plumber” was a setup from the beginning by McCain/Palin to orchestrate this whole fiasco. Was he a plant put there in the crowd by McCain?
June, you are assuming McCain and/or Palin have that much campaigning skills and intelligence. These two could not plan their way out of a paper sack! This lame attempt to proclaim Joe the plumber as he newfound supporte is the best McCain can do in the last few days of his campaign? Where is McCain's political strength and pride? Seriously, have the McCain campaign know-it-alls decided to jump ship all at once and let McCain sink or swim? This would be funny if it was not so sadly pathetic. McCain is not even aware that Joe is using him and his 15mins. of fame to jump start his job status and it appears he is willing to do anything! Good for him, I guess, he is a user but McCain/Palin needs to stop proclaiming "Joe" as if he was someone legitmate in the political scene. He is as oblivious as Palin and sadly as McCain at this time.
ObamObama is a man of confidence, compassion and character and he will be a great president we can all be proud of !
McCain/Palin picked a fine "example". Joe the "Whatever", forgot to pay his taxes!!!!!!!!!!
Let's see McCain said he doesn't know much about economics so will have to rely on his VP for that and when he found out she knew even less than him, he picked an uneducated wannabe plumber that is so clueless that he doesn't even realize that Obama's tax plan will help someone making as low an income and savings account as he seemingly has, but he has fallen for the Republican trick of fooling lower middle class people into having the dream of being rich like those running the party when all the while the Republicans are the ones keeping the already rich richer and the already poor and middle class poorer. But poor hapless Joe the Plumber gives press conferences and poor hapless McCain and Palin are touting Joe as the economy expert... sad sad sad!
As a Canadian watching the election extensively, I can't understand why people don't realize that "Joe the plumber" shouldn't represent the average American. I guess I can see why McCain and Palin always use his as an example, because in their eyes he is the average American. If people havent woken up yet to realize, $250,000 is wishful thinking to be average. Sen Obama clearly has the better tax plan, it's a simple fact that in order to stabalize the economy, the rich are going to have to help the extremely high percentage of people who aren't making $250,000 +. I dont understand why people haven't realized this, McCain represents the rich while Obama represent the majority of people who are "average income". They need a tax break, it only makes sense. why should the rich get richer under McCain's plan while the average person, which represent most of America, get no help. Doing so is only going to create a loss of jobs. A company making over 250 000 is in no risk of going bankrupt, they should be responsible to help the struggling companies to keep them on their feet, which in turn in doing so creates more job opportunities to stabalize the economy.The majority of Canadians have realized who the better candidate is, and come Nov 4 I hope everyone else South of us realizes the same! OBAMA was born to lead, watch and LISTEN to what he says, he is the clear cut choice
Maybe Joe was refusing to show up until the campaign bought him a new wardrobe. Seriously though this entire Joe the Plumber thing is insane.
He was a no show on Larry King last night too.
McCain, Palin and the Plumber have made a mockery of this country and look like a complete pack of fools. Hopefully, their grandstand will be taken away after next Tuesday and we can all move forward under the leadership of Senator Obama and start dealing with the real issues facing our country – the economy, jobs, healthcare and our dependence on foreign oil.
I still don't understand why we give "Joe the Plumber" so much press??? I watched Obama answer his question in the crowd and I felt Obama answered with ease and clarity as he always does!! I really can't believe we now have McCain and Palin putting him in the limelight of their failed campaign!!! Our country is a downward spiral and millions of Americans are facing the worst economic crisis since the "Great Depression" and we are entertaining "Joe the Plumber?" I find this very disturbing. Since the creation of "Joe the Plumber" we have found out that he isn't licensed and he didn't have the potential of earning more the $250,000 annually (of course now in our great country he does, with his music deals and publist) and that he owed back taxes and that most of what comes out of his mouth is lies!! As I sit and watch rallies, I now see Joe coming on stage and speaking politics??? I think this is absurd!!! If McCain and Palin would have "Joe the fake Plumber" speak politics on their behalf then that shows me they are not ready to put this country on the right path!!!!
Where is Joe, indeed. Perhaps his boss is wondering the same thing. I don't know many people who can just walk away from their jobs (and kids) for an extended period of time to go play politics with the boys. I'll give Joe the benefit of the doubt...he was probably out looking for an inexpensive, adequate health care plan for him and his son. D'oh!
drew- are u for real, your buddy JOE misrepresented him self to OBAMA during that taped conversation, i own a business , i make 250,000 and so on .
So that point should be which NORMAL and folks that live in reality dems or repubs realized that JOE has an integrity problem. And if those are the kinds of friends you hang or know then i worry about you too.
Alot people are tired of having fellow americans say one thing but turn out to be another. So maybe you should next time think about if you want the CNN BLOG world to know that you PAL AROUND with people with honesty and integrity issues.
Which is one major factor that will allow OBAMA to win becuase president bush has the same lack of integrity issues (w.m.d.'s) and MR McCain fell right into it and ran with a the JOE story and alot of us saw right threw it (kinda like the girl with backward B on her face.)
Give it a rest already if you step up to get your 15 mins of fame dont be so dumb JOE to think people wouldnt want to make sure your legit! ugh
This just in... McCain/Palin have received support from Bob The Builder as well. Wooo-hooo!!
How did Joe the plumber come to represent so called "mainstream" America? He doesn't represent anybody in my circle.