'Joe the Plumber' Wurzelbacher Running for Ohio Congressman?
Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, otherwise known as "Joe the Plumber," has filed a statement of candidacy to run for congress in Ohio's Ninth District Thursday, according to the Federal Election Commission website.
Many will recall the plainspoken Ohio man, who came to prominence following an encounter with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Wurzelbacher approached the presidential candidate and inquired if he should expect to be taxed under Obama's tax plan.
"I'm getting ready to buy a company that makes 250 to 280 thousand dollars a year," said Wurzelbacher, "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?"
Obama responded by saying, "First off, you would get a 50 percent tax credit so you'd get a tax cut for your healthcare costs... If your revenue is above 250 – then from 250 down, your taxes are going to stay the same," as was reported by ABC News.
What followed was a back and forth between Wurzelbacher and Obama, which resulted in the frequently repeated assessment of Obama's tax plan as wanting to "Spread the Wealth."
Wurzelbacher immediately became a folk hero to conservative voters and later became a fixture on the John McCain presidential campaign trail, where he introduced and endorsed McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, to rally crowds.
According to the Toledo Blade, Jon Stainbrook, chairman of the Lucas County Republican Party, said there is "high-level interest in the national Republican Party" in a potential Wurzelbacher candidacy.
Chris Maloney, spokesman for the Ohio Republican Party, said Wurzelbacher would prove to be an attractive candidate due to the national recognition he received during the 2008 campaign.
There are concerns, however, regarding the experience of the popular Ohioan, especially if pitted against a more seasoned candidate.
Accordingly, Mr. Wurzelbacher would not confirm or deny his decision to run for congress. "I think it's a very interesting idea," he said Tuesday. "That's as much as I can say."
A campaign committee named "Joe for Congress 2012" was also filed on FEC's website, with Wurzelbacher listed as treasurer.
