(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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HEY ABDUL:
If Joe the Plumber didn't ask for this attention, then why did he hire a publicist and why has he come out stating he might run for Congress?
This is the real question for America – do we want this poorly run McCain campaign and team to run America? I am not willing to take that chance, given the lousy way the past 8 years have been managed.
I guess everybody's getting mavericky. Sarah openly disagrees with her running mate, and now "Joe the Plumber" is skipping campaign rallies to sleep in late.
What a way to run a country.
Not even Joe want to be seen with McCain. You should choose your friends more carefully, they all seem to be stabbing you in the back. Who will you turn to now?
This is totally ridiculous! I cannot believe that this person was even on the campaign trail! The story that John McCain has told around this guy is crazy! This man doesn't even have a plumbing company, he doesn't make close to 200K a year, people are donating money to help him pay his back taxes, etc....
Can someone tell me how he is even getting air time! Here we go again, another blunder for John McCain! McCain has piss poor judgment! First, Sarah, now this non-business owner, back taxed, loser not showing up for the rally! Does anyone know what's going on in the McCain camp!
Just another example of a poor show on the part of the Rebublicans. The McSane camp doe snot have it all together and in the final days before the election there will be more screw ups! They have made Joe look like he is the most important person in America and he certainly is not. What a mishap!!!
I think he watched Sen. Obama's 30 minute ad last night and finally came to his senses.
OBAMA/BIDEN 08
Joe may be getting too big for McCain, much like Palin.
Does it even occur to McClown and his beauty-queen sidekick how much of a JOKE this Joe the Plumber stupidity has become? Honestly, does anyone hear the words "Joe the Plumber" now and not roll their eyes?
It looks to me like the McCain campaign is falling apart. I think they see the handwriting on the wall and they are dropping out, mentally, one-by-one.
This is Joe six pack, uneducated and easily lead. Sheep to be exact. This guy is the reason why the republican party stays in power. He is a brainless idiot and redneck. Very good I dont live around his type.
OBAMA----08
Palin and Joe the plumber in 2012...how much better can a ticket get? They would be running on the concept that "I'm the dumbest". "No...I am". NO...I AM!!!
Another fundamental reason why McCain will never win the election: people cannot stand the idea of 4 more years of "Joe The Plumber"!
When McCain calls out to the voters on Tues. I doubt they will show up for him either. Maybe Joe the Plumber is busy doing some work for Ted Stevens.
I knew Joe the plumber was supposed to be out on the trail today with McCain since yesterday and they're trying to tell me HE didn't know?
Hmmm... maybe they don't want him there after that, "a vote for Obama is a vote for the death of Israel" Even Shepard Smith was baffled by the stupidity.
He's not a plumber anyway. People need to stop with this
Tired of the spotlight yet, Joe? Going to run for congress? Going to be a singer?
These ares serious times and we need serious leadership, not a campaign that relies in gimmicks.
Now I know why they call it Defiance Ohio.
Maybe Joe the plumber wanted to get back to his day job. Or maybe they said "hey Sam, can you show up at the rally?" and he forgot that was his name and hence did not show up.
I was going to say "just like a plumber," but that's not fair to real plumbers.
McCains campaign is going down the drain – not even Joe the (fake) plumber can help!
lol mccain cant run his campaign. how can he run this country?
More McCaine Miscommunication
Why is this guy in the news?? He is not worthy,,,fake plumber, a liar and don't pay tax,,,,,is this McNasty closing arguement about Joe the Liar??
LOL LOL LOL how embarrasing! the GOP is a joke