‘Joe the Plumber’ running for Congress

Chris Moody
·Political Reporter

After months of speculation and some convincing from Ohio Republicans, Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher is set to officially announce his candidacy for the state's ninth congressional district.

Wurzelbacher, who became a household name as "Joe the Plumber" after a 2008 confrontation with then-Senator Barack Obama, filed the paperwork with the Federal Election Commission earlier this month and launched an official campaign website.

"Maybe we need some regular guys in there," Wurzelbacher told Yahoo News when Ohio Republicans first started whispering about a possible candidacy in August. "That's what I've been doing the past two and a half years, just encouraging regular Americans to run. Tell the liberal media to go to hell, and I don't care what you guys say about me, I'm going to try to fix this country."

At this early stage in the race, Wurzelbacher faces an uphill battle against likely contender Democratic Rep. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, who has represented the district since 1983. But because of state redistricting, Kapture must first beat fellow Ohio Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich in a primary next year.

When asked about Wurzelbacher's candidacy, a spokesman from Kaptur's office pulled no punches.

"His name's not Joe, he's not a plumber, and he doesn't live in the new Ninth District," said Kaptur spokesman Steve Fought. "In other words, he's the perfect Republican candidate."

In fact, Joseph is Wurzelbacher middle name and although he's not a licensed plumber, he has worked for companies that perform plumbing work. For the past three years, he has spent most of his time traveling and speaking to conservative conferences and tea party rallies.

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