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The Caucus:
Joe in the Spotlight — One week ago, Joe Wurzelbacher was just another working man living in a modest ranch house in Toledo, Ohio, thinking about how to expand his plumbing business. But when he stopped Senator Barack Obama during a visit to his block this weekend to ask about his taxes …
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Marty / Martin Eisenstadt's Blog:
Joe “the Plumber” Wurzelbacher related to Charles “the Crook” Keating. Oops. — John McCain did great tonight in the debate. But every time John mentioned “Joe the Plumber,” some of us in the campaign banged our heads against the wall. If Steve Schmidt had any hair left, I hear he would have been pulling it out tonight.
Toledo Blade:
‘Joe the Plumber’ is focus of presidential debate's first few minutes — The story of “Joe the Plumber” - Joe Wurzelbacher of Shrewsbury Street in Springfield Township - became a centerpiece of the early minutes of the presidential debate last night. — And Joe the Plumber became the subject of national and international interest.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs, Washington Wire, Think Progress, Political Radar, New York Times, Newsweek Blogs, Pajamas Media, Washington Monthly, American Prospect, Achenblog, Political Machine, Hotline On Call, Corrente, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, D-Day, Brave New Films blog, Gawker, Outside The Beltway and Gateway Pundit
Robert J. Elisberg / The Huffington Post:
The “Joe the Plumber” Story Hits an Amazing New Low — Just when you didn't think things could get worse for John McCain - they go in the toilet. — Literally. — So, you remember Joe the Plumber, who John McCain kept relentlessly bringing up. And up.
James Pethokoukis / US News:
Money & Business — Did Barack “Spread the Wealth” Obama Just Blow the Election? — No. Really. You're kidding me. Barack Obama actually told that Joe the Plumber guy that he wants to “spread the wealth around.” What, did Obama just get done reading the Wikipedia entry on Huey “Share the Wealth” Long or something?
Ryan J. Donmoyer / Bloomberg:
‘Joe the Plumber,’ Who Dislikes Obama Tax Plan, Owes Back Taxes — Oct. 16 (Bloomberg) — “Joe the plumber,” the Toledo, Ohio, man whose complaints about Barack Obama's tax plan were featured in the final presidential debate, owes the state of Ohio almost $1,200 in back income taxes.
The Campaign Spot:
After Targeting Joe the Plumber, Obamabots Pledge To Expose Scandals of Guy in Rockwell's ‘Four Freedoms’ Painting — Thank God we live in a free country, where you can speak your mind on public issues, without fear that those who disagree will respond by exposing anything you've ever done …
Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:
Joe the Plumber: No new taxes — and no old ones, either — Joe the Plumber really is no fan of paying taxes. — According to records from the Lucas County (OH) Court of Common Pleas found by my colleague Avi Zenilman, Samuel J. Wurzelbacher has a lien placed against him to the tune of $1,182.92.
Tom Elia / The New Editor:
How the Left Works — By now everyone who follows politics has heard of Joe Wurzelbacher, a guy from Toledo known now as ‘Joe the Plumber,’ who asked a question of Barack Obama in a campaign rope line, and was referenced numerous times in last night's debate.
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Joe's registration — Joe Wurzelbacher doesn't immediately turn up in the Ohio voter registration database, leading to some speculation last night that he's not registered to vote. — But the Toledo Blade reports that he appears to be a registered Republican, and a primary voter at that:
Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:
Joe not a licensed plumber, McCain's enthusiasm not diminished — The Toledo Blade is reporting that Joe the Plumber is actually not licensed. But that, combined with his apparent tax lien, isn't lessening McCain's ardor. — He said in an interview with Fox's Carl Cameron today that he hoped …
Michelle Malkin:Is Joe Wurzelbacher related to Charles Keating — and does it matter?
Discussion:
Hot Air, The Huffington Post, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, The Caucus and Take Our Country Back
Lara Jakes Jordan / Associated Press:
Officials: FBI investigates ACORN for voter fraud — WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is investigating whether the community activist group ACORN helped foster voter registration fraud around the nation before the presidential election. — A senior law enforcement official confirmed the investigation to The Associated Press.
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Michelle DeArmond / PE Angels Baseball:
Inland GOP mailing depicts Obama's face on food stamp — Download story podcast — The Press-Enterprise — The latest newsletter by an Inland Republican women's group depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken, prompting outrage in political circles.
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TPM Election Central, Capitol Alert, Political Byline, Gawker, The Daily Dish, Oliver Willis, The Campaign Spot and Fox News
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Brian Stelter / The Caucus:
McCain to Letterman: ‘I Screwed Up’ — He made it. — After a high-flying adventure, Senator John McCain finally sat down next to David Letterman on the set of “The Late Show” on Thursday and offered his mea culpa: “I screwed up.” — Anyone following Mr. McCain or watching Mr. Letterman knew exactly what Mr. McCain meant.
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Jill Zuckman / The Swamp:McCain helicopters to Letterman in N.Y.
Discussion:
The Hill's Blog Briefing Room
Sol Stern / Wall Street Journal:
Ayers Is No Education ‘Reformer’ — The new media spin is worse than Obama's original evasion. — One of the most misleading statements during the presidential debates was when Barack Obama claimed that William Ayers was just “a guy in the neighborhood.”
Discussion:
pw, The Corner, pushback, The Quick and the Ed, Atlas Shrugs, The Real Barack Obama and www.redstate.com
Matt / Think Progress:
Confirmed: McCain To Appear With Virginia GOP Chairman Who Compared Obama To Osama Bin Laden — Earlier this week, Time magazine's Karen Tumulty reported on how Jeffrey Frederick, the chairman of the Virginia Republican party, gave GOP volunteers talking points on “the connection between Barack Obama and Osama bin Laden.”
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Edward T. Pound / National Journal Online:
Lobbyist Speaks: Rumor Of McCain Affair False, Damaging — VICKI ISEMAN TALKS FOR THE FIRST TIME ABOUT THE GOP NOMINEE, THE NEW YORK TIMES, AND THE STORY THAT CHANGED HER LIFE. — In one of the most sensational stories of the presidential campaign, The New York Times published a 3,000-word …
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Harsh GOP robo-call hits Ayers — A harsh new robocall (above) — at least the third in a series — attacks Obama for having “worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers” whose group “killed Americans.” — Robocalls are a relatively inexpensive way to deliver a negative message …
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Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:Latest McCain Robocall Alleges That Obama Denied Babies Medical Care
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
zombietime:
The Left's Big Blunder — The disastrously counter-productive strategy of Obama's supporters — Two campaigns are being waged right now for the presidency of the United States. No, I'm not talking about the Obama campaign and the McCain campaign. I'm talking about the real-world campaign and the meta-campaign.
Gallup:
Gallup Daily: Obama 49%, McCain 43% — Obama maintains lead, but falls under 50% — PRINCETON, NJ — The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking report from Monday through Wednesday shows Barack Obama with a 49%to 43% lead over John McCain among registered voters.
Discussion:
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