Local News

HOLLAND, Ohio (CBS 5 / AP / Politico) ― Republican John McCain said Thursday that 'Joe the Plumber,' whose questions about Democrat Barack Obama's tax policy became a centerpiece of the final presidential debate, was the real winner of the televised forum.

"Joe's the man!" McCain proclaimed before a crowd of 1,000 people at a rally in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

But it turns out that Joe the Plumber's story sprang a few leaks. McCain hung his debate performance on the Holland, Ohio plumber who campaign aides said they never vetted.

The man who was held up by McCain as the typical, hard-working American taxpayer isn't really a licensed plumber and owes nearly $1,200 in back taxes. He also makes less than $250,000 a year, which means he would receive a tax cut if Obama were elected president.

"Joe," whose real name is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, 34, was cited by McCain in Wednesday evening's debate as an example of someone who wants to buy the company he works for in nearby Toledo — now a two-person operation — but would be hurt by Obama's tax plans.

The burly, bald man acknowledged Thursday that he doesn't have a plumber's license, but claimed he didn't need one because he works for someone else at a company that does residential work. 

However, Wurzelbacher still would need to be a licensed apprentice or journeyman to work in the city of Toledo and Lucas County — and he's not, according to David Golis, manager and residential building official for the Toledo Division of Building Inspection and Cheryl Schimming of Lucas County Building Regulations. The two agencies handle plumber licenses in the area.

And then there is the matter of his taxes.

Wurzelbacher owes the state of Ohio $1,182.98 in personal income tax, according to Lucas County Court of Common Pleas records.

In January 2007, Ohio's Department of Taxation filed a claim on his property until he pays the debt, according to the court records. The lien remains active.

Wurzelbacher, who is registered as a Republican and voted in the GOP primary in March according to the the county elections board, previously wouldn't say who would get his vote. But Thursday, the self-described conservative said he was a McCain backer.

'Joe the Plumber' also expressed surprise that his name was mentioned so many times — almost two dozen — in the debate.

On Thursday night's "Late Show with David Letterman," McCain said he had not yet spoken to Wurzelbacher, and apologized for the press attention he had received.

"Joe, if you're watching, I'm sorry," McCain said.

The saga began in Toledo on Sunday, when Wurzelbacher told Obama that he was preparing to buy the plumbing company, which earns more than $250,000 a year, and said: "Your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?"

Wurzelbacher told reporters Thursday that he doesn't have a good plan put together on how he would buy Newell Plumbing and Heating.

He said the business consists of owner Al Newell and him. Wurzelbacher said he's worked there for six years and that the two have talked about his taking it over at some point.

"There's a lot I've got to learn," he said.

Obama told Wurzelbacher Sunday that under his proposal taxes on any revenue from $250,000 on down would stay the same, but that amounts above that level would be subject to a 39 percent tax, instead of the current 36 percent rate.

McCain sought to cast Obama's plan as one would stop entrepreneurs such as Wurzelbacher from investing in new small businesses and keep existing ones from growing. The McCain campaign even launched an ad featuring the exchange between Wurzelbacher and Obama.

On Thursday in New Hampshire, Obama said McCain was misleading voters by proposing tax plans that favor the rich while criticizing an Obama tax plan that would raise taxes only on people making more than $250,000 a year, just 5 percent of all taxpayers.

"He's trying to suggest that a plumber is the guy he's fighting for," Obama said. "How many plumbers do you know that are making a quarter-million dollars a year?"

It appeared Obama was right.

Wurzelbacher told reporters Thursday that Obama's tax plan wouldn't affect him right now, because he doesn't make anywhere near $250,000 a year - although he hopes to some day - and acknowledged at his current pay rate, "I'd be receiving his tax cuts."

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)