Decision '08: Joes have their say

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2835&u_sid=10462119

Published Friday October 17, 2008
Decision '08: Joes have their say
BY CHRISTOPHER BURBACH AND MICHAEL O'CONNOR
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITERS

Enough already about Joe the Plumber from Toledo.

What about Joe the Barber from Omaha?

Or Joe the Mechanic in Bellevue. Joe the Insurance Agent in Kearney. Joe the Mower in Iowa.

And then there's Jody the Real Estate Appraiser from Omaha. What would a McCain or Obama presidency do for — or to — her life?

They're all regular Joes, too, just like the Ohio plumber, Joe Wurzelbacher, who starred in the latest presidential debate without even being there.


Joe Brown looks at a muffler at his business, Joe's Auto Repair in Bellevue, on Thursday. The opinions of Midlands Joes vary on which presidential candidate would best help small businesses. Some favor John McCain, while others like Brown say Barack Obama's tax plan would help the middle class.


Seems that Wurzelbacher, of suburban Toledo, Ohio, had approached Democratic nominee Barack Obama at a campaign appearance. Wurzelbacher, the story goes, wants to buy a plumbing business. He said he was worried about what Obama would do to his taxes.

During Wednesday's debate, McCain needled Obama about the encounter. Obama jabbed back. Suddenly, the national spotlight beamed on Wurzelbacher's bald head. He became Joe the Plumber, poster boy for the average Joes of America.

FULL story at link.