(CNN) - Joe Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber, has become an integral part of John McCain's presidential bid, but it appears the Arizona senator's campaign and the now-famous Toledo plumber need to work on their communication skills.
McCain aides told CNN's Dana Bash Wurzelbacher would appear with the Republican presidential candidate at his first campaign event in Defiance, Ohio. But in what was a slightly awkward moment for McCain, Wurzelbacher was nowhere to be seen when the Arizona senator called out for him.
Read Dana Bash's first person account of the mix up on AC360 blog
A campaign aide later said Wurzelbacher had "decided not to come" and may join McCain later in the day.
But reached at his home by CNN's Mary Snow, Wurzelbacher said it was "news to him" that he was supposed to be at the McCain rally. Wurzelbacher said nobody from the McCain campaign confirmed he was attending the event and called the incident a "miscommunication."
Wurzelbacher also said he is headed to Philadelphia for a charity event unrelated to the campaign and has no plans to meet up with McCain today.
UPDATE: Contacted by CNN a second time, Wurzelbacher said the campaign only called him to confirm after the event in question already took place. He will now try to meet up with McCain later in the day.
Watch: 'Joe': McCain 'a real American'
Wurzelbacher also said he had gotten an initial call about coming to the morning rally, "but no one called back to confirm," and was "not happy" that McCain had called out his name and he wasn't there.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
If mccain runs this country like he has run his campaign we are in big trouble if he wins. I wish joe the liar would take a hike to alaska.
mccain/palin = pathological liars!
Joe has jumped from the sinking ship SS McBush. He and his Hollywood Agent are planning for the Moose Bush/Fake Joe 2012 campaign.
Oh my! Is the famous Joe changing his mind?!
A sad moment for Mr. McCain.
For a guy concerned about taxes, he sure doesn't work much. I smell a rat or maybe even another "Whack Job".
Hilarious! Maybe Joe is done USING Johnny boy.
Hey Joe – your 15 minutes are up – you were a fraud right from the start -NOT a real plumber, don't make anywhere near $250k like you told Mr. Obama and DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT A SOCIALIST IS? If not, ask Gov Palin – she is a socialist – after all she took from the oil companies and gave to the Alaskan people ....spread the wealth ...even in her own words.
When is this guy will be called "Joe the phony
Too funny, keep up the good work Joe!
Get rid of Joe Please!!!!!!
This is now beyond funny. It's pathetic.
I would have loved to see the expression on McCain's face when his fake plumber pulled the no-show. Oh, wait, it will probably be on YouTube!!
Maybe "Joe The Plumber" has finally found out than 99.9% of plumbers make less than $250K a year...
Boy, McCain's campaign is falling apart at the seams. Why does he have this guy campaigning for him anyway? He seems dumb as rocks. When he was asked a question about a policy, he couldn't give an intelligent answer.
Careful J. T. Plumber, you will be McCain's next scapegoat when he loses on Tuesday...
Truly priceless!
HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
i was watching him introducing "Joe the Plumber" and there was no Joe!
such a GIMMICK!!!!
Hummmmm! somethiing very strange is going on with Joe-the- NOT-a plummer.....
Morons.
And there are still morons supporting this McCain/Pailn ticket.
Give me a break,.
Yup...smart guy...yup...picked by McCain....Maybe JTP thinks he's a celebrity now and therefor is too important to actually campaign with JM....2 winners I tell you. More examples of how out of touch JM's whole campaign is with EVERYTHING! They can't even get their appearances straight...hahahahaha. BO/JB '08/'12
LOL LOL,
awwww, i supposed he didn't want to make a total fool of himself again. more like mccain has made a bigger fool out of himself letting that idiot to become a mascot!!
GO VOTE!!!!
OBAMA-BIDEN 08 & 12
WOW!
From the begining the McCain campaign has been in a state of organized confusion relying on deception and slander to over shadow how the Bush and McCain polciies are the same in all areas both foreign and domestic.
Joe is fed up...he does not want to be used by Mccan and Palin.....
Is somebody having second thoughts about voting for McCain???
What a Joke. Sounds like Comicview
Too funny, already dissing the man who made him a "star".
I wonder how is the McCain campaign managed. If McCain and his aides can't even manage the campaign, how will he fair when managing the whole country?