America’s most famous plumber probably won’t have to buy a newspaper ad ever again, forever immortalized as the theme of Wednesday’s final Presidential debate (full debate available here), Joe Wurzelbacher has had his phone ringing off the hook today, though few of the calls are for plumbing emergencies.
Wurzelbacher had his name mentioned more than twenty times on Wednesday night, a winfall of publicity that should make the Holland Ohio plumber and would be entrepreneur the answer to trivia questions for at least a decade.
Joe was mentioned on the theme of the backbone of America the small businessman, his name was repeated as a mantra over taxation, the driving conduit over the conversation of health care, all roads it seems led to Holland and Joe’s plumbing van.
He perhaps is the first plumber in America to hold his own news conference, leading more than a few pundits and Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden to smell a set up in the McCain lavatory laboratory.
He became john McCain’s touchstone to the common man, or at least the common plumber, the face of all America and the suggested suffering that McCain feels a Barack Obama administration will bring to the Joe’s of the union. In fact McCain mentioned Joe so much, perhaps Joe should have been the running mate (a change that some Republicans might think isn't too late to make yet)
McCain used Joe to help out with his everything but the kitchen sink approach to the final weeks of the campaign, liberally (shh don’t use that word) dropped between the introduction of William Ayers as a talking point and the occasional mention of the neighbours to the north whether it be from oil production to health care.
In fact while far short of the shout outs that Joe received, Canada was mentioned at least twice (perhaps a new record of recognition for the Great White North) that we can remember, a first that would be rather symbolic if not for the domination of the plumber of Holland.
The hour and a half did not reveal much in the way of new ideas from either candidate, Mr. McCain unsuccessfully trying to corner Obama on the last of the key issues that he has left, Obama playing a pretty good game of defence, making no stumbles, deflecting anything of potential damage quite handily and treating McCain (and his running mate) with deference but resolve, not backing down or letting any of McCain's challenges go unanswered.
Over the course of the hour and a half, the candidates did seem to spend far too much time discussing the fate of Joe, who we're sure is a nice guy but probably would like to have heard more about their plans for the nation and a little less about his personal business plans.
Left off the discussion list for the bulk of the conversation was the declining state of the US economy, a substantive discussion on what government programs might be modified for better returns to the American public, any talk of a spiralling debt or how the candidates might address the looming spectre of unemployment, housing woes and other social concerns.
Barack Obama probably didn’t say enough to move Joe the Plumber’s vote (not that it looks like it was for the moving) over to the Democrats on Wednesday. At least judging by Joe's observations of the debate at it's conclusion.
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Should Obama win in November, Joe will most likely have to pay that 3 per cent tax increase from 36 to 39 per cent when he makes more than 250,000 dollars.
But considering the amount of free publicity he received in the media since the debate and the increase of business that should be driven his way, he’ll probably be more than able to cover that small increase to his bottom line.
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In fact, if you're a plumber and your name is Joe, wherever you live today you are the topic of conversation and the first name that will come to mind the next time a kitchen sink gets clogged, a toilet overflows or the basement pipes spring a leak.
As for the two candidates, if the polls are correct it will be an Obama White House in January, and if the new President ever needs a service call, the least he could do would be to give Joe a call for a quote. After all Joe has given more than a few of those since he was launched onto the national stage last night!
Likewise if any of the pipes in the many McCain households across the nation need some plumbing work, we would like to think that Joe gets the job.
After Wednesday he’s surely forever to be known as America’s plumber.
Everything Joe:
Joe the Plumber won't say who will get his vote
'Joe the Plumber' happy to help candidates make point
McCain throws plumber at Obama in final debate
Rivals Split, With Joe in the Middle
Biden questions 'notion of this guy Joe the plumber'
The Kitchen Sink Debate
A handy print-out-and-keep guide to the Joes of the 2008 election
The Early Word: The Debate, the Plumber and 19 Days to Go
All Joe, all the time
McCain's best hope: Joe the plumber
Did Barack "Spread the Wealth" Obama Just Blow the Election?
Fighter Pilot Strafes His Target
Counting Chickens, Joe the Plumber and the Republican Closing Strategy
McCain's Performance Was Strong, But Election Remains Obama's to Lose
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