McCain's Final Strokes Paint Obama With Lefty Brush

Wurzelbacher hurts pros by having no license, he says

(NEWSER) - Joe Wurzelbacher may be the most famous plumber this side of Super Mario Brothers, but Troy Dunn doesn't think much of him. “Joe the Plumber isn’t even a licensed plumber,” says Dunn, the 44-year-old licensed journeyman who fixes Barack Obama’s toilets. “He's taking our work. McCain talks about the middle class, and then he brings up this guy as his champion. The middle class is being hurt by people exactly like him.” More»

Back on trail after debate, Republican still has Obama-baiting plumber on lips

(NEWSER) - Joe the Plumber remained a fixture of John McCain’s campaign today on the heels of his prominence in last night’s debate, the Chicago Tribune reports. “Joe's the man,” the Republican said at a rally. “He won and small businesses won across America. The American people are not going to let Sen. Obama raise their taxes in a tough economy.” More»

McCain mentions make Ohio man America's most famous plumber

(NEWSER) - Joe Wurzelbacher found it "pretty surreal" to become the focus of last night's presidential debate, the Ohio plumber tells the AP. "Joe the Plumber" was mentioned more than 20 times in the debate—more than Iraq or the economy—as John McCain and Barack Obama sparred over their tax and health care plans. More»

The pitbull with lipstick might've been a game-changer, but enough already

(NEWSER) - It's an inevitability of any election season: Some phrases will get bandied around so much that the hapless American, simply trying to do his civic duty by paying attention, will be crushed under the sheer weight of political verbiage. The Red Eye lists the worst offenders:

• Change: As in, change the channel now.
• Hockey mom: We're not in Alaska any more.
• Joe the Plumber: He's not a licensed plumber, not named Joe.

McCain's guest nowhere to be found during first Ohio rally

(NEWSER) - The image of John McCain looking for a nowhere-to-be-found Joe the Plumber has surfaced on YouTube and is being forwarded by gleeful Democrats, notes MSNBC's First Read blog. “Joe’s with us here," McCain said at an Ohio rally yesterday. "Joe, where are you?," he asked, looking around. "Where is Joe? Joe, I thought you were here today." More»