Joe the Plumber Grabs Book Deal

Toledo police worried about 'negative repercussions'

(NEWSER) - It seems Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, or as John McCain dubbed him, “Joe the Plumber,” lives a charmed life. Wurzelbacher was caught going 50mph in a 35mph zone in Toledo last week, but America’s favorite toilet doctor got off with just a warning. The officer decided a ticket would have “negative repercussions to the department and city as a whole,” according to the official report. More»

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»

(NEWSER) - We already knew he could fix a toilet and stir up a presidential race. Now, Joe the Plumber may be dazzling us with a country album on Inauguration Day, Politico reports. It seems the artist formally known as Joe Wurzelbacher has teamed up with a Nashville PR firm and is being pursued by a major label. More»

Would battle popular northern Ohio representative

(NEWSER) - Joe the Plumber is mulling a 2010 congressional bid. The man John McCain turned into an instant celebrity—and the centerpiece of the GOP campaign in the home stretch—told radio host Laura Ingraham yesterday he might take on a highly popular incumbent in northern Ohio, CNN reports. “I'll tell you what, we'd definitely be in one heck of a fight,” said Joe Wurzelbacher. “But, you know, I'd be up for it.” More»

Democrat's tax plans amount to 'welfare,' Republican charges

(NEWSER) - John McCain criticized Barack Obama’s economic plans yesterday as the Republican focuses on portraying his opponent as a tax-and-spend liberal with a socialist vision for America, the Los Angeles Times reports. McCain had hoped to iconic plumber Joe on his tour of central Florida, but Joe Wurzelbacher refused. Instead, McCain appeared with several small-business types, including a florist and sports-bar owner. More»