SAMUEL JOSEPH Wurzelbacher, an unknown Ohio plumber five days ago until he questioned Barack Obama's tax policies on camera, yesterday had to defend his own record.
On Wednesday, Republican candidate John McCain mentioned him 20 times during his TV debate with Obama, saying that Wurzelbacher and others were rightly worried about the Democrat's proposals.
However, the international attention quickly sprung a leak for Wurzelbacher (34), when it emerged that he does not have a plumber's licence, as required by Ohio building regulations.
On Thursday, McCain said Wurzelbacher was "the real winner" from the debate; though yesterday he apologised to him on the David Letterman TV show for bringing him to world attention.
Speaking to reporters outside his home, Wurzelbacher said Obama's plans "to spread the wealth around" - as the Democrat put it to him last Sunday when they met - were "socialist".
"Move to a socialist country and do it. Don't try to do it here in this country. This country was built by great people and great ideals and he has thrown them down the toilet," he said.
Dubbed "Joe the Plumber" by the candidates, Wurzelbacher is also behind with his tax payments. Locals are divided on whether he is to blame for getting a difficult time in the media.
The diversion in the campaign has proved useful for a "Joe the Plumber" business in Amarillo, Texas, whose website has been hit by 32,000 visitors so far. Joe has spawned a new trade in T-shirts, with everything from "I Love Joe the Plumber", to "Vote Joe the Plumber in '08 - no more drips for president" selling well.
