(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
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I guess that interview with Fox the other day during which Joe-the-tax-evader got nailed was just too much for him.
OK. Seriously no more Joe the Plumber. Just stop.
WoW! An AWOL media creation. Whooda thunk?
Do you think maybe his 15 minutes was up? I hope if they're paying him, that he reports it on his taxes...Could get ugly....
Dah, no one in the McCain camp told Joe he was suppose to be anywhere. Couple that with the vesting of our Republican Vice Presidential canidate and the constant whinning of John McCain. We are wittnessing the death spiral of the McCain campaign, finally at long last.
I love reading these posts, reminds me that Commies are alive in well in the good ol' USA.
now if only sarah palin would forget to show up for the next week or so McCain might have a shot
The Mccain/Palin supporters never have anything intelligent to say.
They are always factually wrong. Take talking points from Rush, Hannity, Beck. I wonder if these guys are the ones running their campaign.
I am so sick of 'Joe, the Plumber'! Talk about the issues, McCain/Palin!! Or, is it because you don't have anything to talk about??? Watch Palin's interview with Elizabeth Vargas (Ithought maybe it was Couric and Gibson) and see how Palin cannot answer a question so you even know what she is talking about!! McCain/Palin have run such a dirty campaign I do Not know how anyone can even think about voting for them!! Can you picture Palin talking with a dignatarie??? When she had her chance, what did she say? "What is the name of your children?" This Joe the Plumber business is so over–leave the poor (and he must be poor, why hasn't he paid taxes, hospital bill?) alone so he can make some money to pay his bills???
Mc Cain should do the country the favor and drop out of the race and save the country the time, the money and the trouble ( and leave, by leaving the American people with whatever is worth to remember about John Mc Cain – Mc cain the POW – not the politician ; Picking Palin without a background check was the biggest mistake of his campaign, panicking during the financial crisis and wanting to suspend your campaign, didn't say much about his experience either). His been tested "my friends" and he has failed.Barack talks about the issues, Mc Cain acts like a kiddengarden child, looking for insulting epithets ( socialist, radical ), and tries to score points by punching below the belt because he can not conceive anything intelligent to say and make a point. He is desperately trying to stay afloat, well here is the life vest: He should concede in dignity before he looses in a mudslide.In the meantime, he should do himself the favor and take into consideration who he puts on the campaign podium instead of judging Obama for his acquaintances.
I don't know why there is not more news on Joe the Plumber and his views on Social Security. He wants to do away with it and John McCain still thinks he is great. John, introduce him as your hero for voicing what you and your republicans really want to do with Social Security. He is just a weird right wing nut.
I love how the "rogue" VP candidate has embraced "Joe the rogue," the guy who doesn't pay his taxes and who practices his profession without bothering to get the required license. They both think they are above the law.
Come to think of it, they are a perfect pair!
ooops .... miscommunication .... McCain just pushed the red button.
We just can't take risk with McCain/Palin.
ENOUGH of this staged "Joe the Plumber"! He is NOT a Plumber! He owes taxes...he lived in Alasaka and rumor has it has ties to the Palan camp....
McLyer wanted to use a "stage" and got cought!
Go away JO and soon John!
Can the McCain camp do ANYTHING right? Is this the way he would lead the country if elected?
Darn, and I was so looking forward to listening to McCain's smartest adviser.
Who the heck cares about this anyway??? Aren't there more important things to "report" CNN???
Bev, "the legal secretary"
I don't care.
Angela the Graduate Student.
Oops! Has Joe the Plumber gone "rogue" on McCain?!
Who cares about Joe the Plummer??
Wow, this campaign has turned McCain into a joke. The King interview was probably his best and all he did was repeat the same whining, lies and half-truths about Obama. Not once did he say what he would do!!!! I went negative because Obama would not do town halls....Obama lied about campaign finance (again if you keep saying maybe someone will believe it)...Obama is a (insert name). He is acting like a spoiled kid....Does anyone really think he has the temperment to be PRESIDENT? People wake up and do not vote for this guy on 4 Nov...And I did not even mention PALIN (great choice there)!!!!
Its ok Joe. You don't have to lie, I wouldn't wanna be apart of it anymore either.
Honestly, it's probably better off that Joe didn't show up. Even Fox news calls him out on being uninformed and alarmist in regards to Obama's Israel policy, so who knows what he would say.
Joe and Palin have stolen McCain's spotlight!
and McCain chose both! haha
Maybe Joe the Dumber doesn't know how to read a map.
Sorry John....This is "Joe the Unemployed Plumber"....I'm on my way
to Nashville to cut my first record so I can raise money for my run for
Congress....save me a seat in Washington please.....again....I
apologize....give my love to Sarah.