Debating "Joe the Plumber"

October 16, 2008

"Joe the Plumber" was the surprise star of the third and final presidential debate, getting no less than 13 mentions. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama met Wurzelbacher on the campaign trail in Holland, Ohio. "Joe the Plumber" asked Obama about his tax plan, saying he is about to buy a company that makes a little over $250,000 a year, and under Obama's proposal, that would put him into a higher tax bracket. Obama told Joe that he wasn't trying to punish his success, only to "spread the wealth around." McCain criticised Obama's proposal to raise taxes on those who make more than $250,000 a year, saying it would hurt small business owners like "Joe the Plumber."