(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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Another deserter. Ha ha. John sang like a bird in Viet Name (failed that test, didn't he?) Now maybe he will whine about joe the plumber deserting. Wait – don't rats desert a sinking ship?
Obama/Biden '08 – the guys that will protect ALL of our Constitutional Rights !!!!!
McCain stop beating a dead horse "Joe the Plumber" is a fraud and is now using you for his stepping stone...just like Palin.
McCain your campaign strategies have been a complete failure!!!!
I didn't show up either, why am I not in the news?
cnn is constantly just reporting negative things about McCain.
What about Obama's slip in the polls? Where is your poll of polls now?
another failed promise
just like bush
LOL.
"My friends, here is Joe the Plumber!"
**Waits**
**Cries**
This is what happens when you hang your political future on a fake plumber.
Ha Ha Ha ... does McCain know ANYTHING that is going on in his campaign ? Is it actually HIS campaign ?
I dont think that Joe the Plumber is a McCAIN supporter,that is why he is refusing to appear at any of his rally.
Does this guy even have a job?
LOL. McCain campaign is a bad joke!
Priceless.
Such a well-managed campaign. Imagine such organization (and reliance on such wonderful "symbols") when leading the nation.
Vote for competence. Vote for Obama.
Joe, it appears your 15 minutes of fame are up. John, it appears your fame is also fleeting.
I feel sorry for the guy as he is going to be dropped by the Republicans like a hot potato next week. No wonder he is now trying to get a recording deal before the spotlight shuts off.
It appears Joe The Plumber is always there at home ready for the next interview...
Does he ever do any plumbing work at all?
Could the MCain campaign get any worse.......what a joke! This should give everyone an idea of how McCain would run the nation. It's sad, that after all he has done, history will remember him for this pathetic campaign. I haven't seen this much hate and divisiveness since the race riots in the 60's......a sad legacy for McCain to leave behind. We need to go forward, not backward. America NEEDS Obama, especially after what the McCain campaign has done. We need to UNITE to move forward.
Embarrasing. Sounds like the entire campaign communication strategy.
By speaking publically, Joe is asking to be vetted, questioned, examined, yada yada yada....
"Joe the Plummer didn't ask to be made famous! Give him a big round of applause! Now leave him alone!!"
This guy is giving all us REAL working Joe's a bad name. But that's all right – he's also showing up McCain for the phony he is as well!
GOBAMA!
Just shows you how out of touch mccain is..Also,tell Joe the plumber
I'll trade him my PENN STATE HODDIE FOR HIS OHIO STATE HODDIE..If you can't beat us joe..join us..PENN STATE FOR OBAMA !!
Anybody out there know any plumbers who have publicists and are looking to do a country music album?
I sure don't.....
John McCain is getting pimped by this Joe the Plumber fraud yet he keeps on bringing him up day after day after day.....
If McCain is so easily conned by a plumber what do you think Putin would do to him?
So Joe is tossing McCain under the bus is what I get out of this.
Or McCain is so lousy at planning things, that he can't get a plumber to come to his events even. How is going to get things done in the White House?
Joe is in the tank for the socialist! Say it ain't so, etc.
This is so funny, another misstep by Grampa McCain and Madame Moose. Maybe Joe Sixpack will come out to one of the rallies or Wally the White Supremeist they seem to be showing up in droves.
Makes you wonder, has anyone seen blacks at any McCain or Palin rallies? Hmmmmm
Joe's pissed because Sarah Palin threw him under the bus for Tito the Builder at a recent event. A plumber's revenge.