Joe the Plumber eyeing Marcy Kaptur's Congressional seat

Joe the Plumber may become Joe the Congressman if his bid for a seat in Congress goes successful.

Joe the Plumber | Photo courtesy of Rona Proudfoot

Joe the Plumber whose real name is Samuel “Joe” Wurzelbacher (WUR’-zuhl-bahk-kuhr), the Ohio man who became famous during the 2008 presidential campaign, has filed paperwork last week with the Federal Election Commission, stating his intention to run as a Republican in Ohio’s ninth U.S. House district.

The seat is currently held by Marcy Kaptur, the longest serving Democratic woman in the House. Kaptur and U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D., Cleveland) have both said they will run for the Democratic nomination for the seat. They were put into the same race after a congressional redistricting.

"The reason I would want to run for Congress is to show the American people and show Ohio that someone can run and serve without compromising their integrity," Mr. Wurzelbacher had said. "It comes down to jobs. Ohio has lost a quarter of a million people and someone is not doing their job and I know I can do a much better job.

"Bottom line: It comes down to serving the people," he added.

Wurzelbacher gained significant attention during the 2008 U.S. presidential election after he was videotaped questioning then-Democratic candidate Barack Obama about his small business tax policy during a campaign stop in Ohio. As an employee of a plumbing contractor, he was given the moniker "Joe the Plumber." The Republican McCain-Palin campaign later applied "Joe the Plumber" as a metaphor for middle-class Americans. He subsequently published a book about his experiences, and has appeared as a motivational speaker and commentator.