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| "Joe the Plumber" for Higher Office? Not Likely |
You might say the man known as "Joe the Plumber" both is -- and isn't -- in the political arena these days, even after he said following the fame he got from the presidential election he wanted nothing to do with politics.
Joe Wurzelbacher appeared at a fundraiser in rural Mercer County over the weekend for Quad Cities Businessman Bobby Schilling -- the man running against incumbent Phil Hare for the 17th District Congressional seat.
Wurzelbacher says while he's endorsing Schilling, voters still need to make up their own minds, so he won't actually say "vote for Schilling."
Wurzelbacher tells WGIL he'll stick to endorsing people for now, but otherwise has no political ambitions -- that is, except for one office.
"I did just run for my...local precinct, and I was elected to that," Wurzelbacher said. "I tell people to get involved at the government and local (levels), and I thought if I'm telling people to do it, I'd better well do it. I prefer when people lead by example. But as far as running for anything major like Congress or Senate, I do a lot of praying to God, and He hasn't laid that upon my heart. If he does, I'll fight Him every step of the way. The last thing I want to do, really, is be in that kind of position."
Wurzelbacher says he'd rather use his name and unsought notoriety to encourage that public participation.
As for why he's endorsing Schilling, Wurzelbacher says the two talked extensively, and feels he'll be good for the area.
("Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher spoke with reporters in rural New Windsor Saturday night. WGIL News Story and Photo by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 05 25 10 by Newsroom |
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