From plumber to political celebrity: “Joe the plumber” was the secret star of the 2008 US presidential election campaign. Now the 49-year-old has died after a long illness.
At that time, Barack Obama (62) competed against John McCain († 81) in the race for the White House – and for the Republicans under McCain there was a defeat in the house.
Then McCain unpacked a secret weapon: Samuel Joseph “Joe the Plumber” Wurzelbacher.
The plumber from a suburb of Toledo, Ohio, became a media sensation when he asked Obama about his tax plan at a campaign event.
Their exchange and Obama’s response that he wanted to “distribute the wealth” was repeatedly televised. Days later, US Senator McCain kept quoting “Joe the plumber” in a presidential debate. The Republican said Obama’s plans would hurt people like him.
Root Bacher with the then Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin at a campaign event
Photo: Amy Sancetta/AP
After that, Joe became a political star: he toured the country in his own campaign bus and campaigned for McCain. But the plumber couldn’t do anything, Obama won the election by a landslide.
But: His fame from the election campaign made him a sought-after voice for many conservative politicians. He traveled the United States, advertising for the Republicans. In 2012, he ran for a seat in the US House of Representatives in Ohio, but lost in a heavily Democratic district.
During the election campaign, he frightened voters with statements that years later would bring ex-President Donald Trump (77) to the White House: For example, that a large wall should be built on the border with Mexico and that migrants should be turned away with an iron fist.
According to his own statement, he then turned away from politics in disappointment and went back to work as a plumber.
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Joe’s death came as little surprise to his family: His eldest son, Joey Rootbacher, said his father died in Wisconsin on Sunday. His family announced earlier this year that he had pancreatic cancer.
“All I have to say is that he was a real patriot,” says Joey Wurzelbacher. “His great thing is that everyone comes to God. He taught me that and I hope that message will be heard by many people.”
2023-08-29 19:55:43
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