Say It Ain’t So – No Joe in Toledo

From CBS News’ John Bentley:


(TOLEDO, OHIO) – He’s become the rallying cry for John McCain, mentioned numerous times in every speech he’s made for the past week – Joe the Plumber’s questioning of Barack Obama.

“He's the only person to get a real answer out of Sen. Obama about his plans for our country,” McCain said of Joe Wurzelbacher, referring to his questioning of Obama about his tax plan. “We learned more about Sen. Obama's plans from Joe's question than we've learned in months of speeches by Sen. Obama.”

Obama told Wurzelbacher that he would cut taxes for the vast majority of Americans, but that since the company he wanted to buy makes more than $250,000 a year, his taxes would go up. Even though McCain uses the anecdote far more often than Obama does – thereby keeping Joe in the public eye – McCain apologized today for all the publicity he’s received.

“Joe didn't ask for Sen. Obama to come to his house, and he didn't ask to be famous. He certainly didn't ask for the political attacks on him from the Obama campaign,” McCain said. “Joe, if you’re watching, I’m sorry you’re being put through this. No American should be put through this for asking questions of a presidential candidate.”

So where was Joe today? The man who lives just outside of Toledo was taking in the sights of New York City, according to the McCain campaign.