Joe the Plumber is elected to party office in Ohio
by AP
Posted: 05.05.2010 at 1:02 PM

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Joe the Plumber is plunging into party politics.

Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher (WUR'-zuhl-bah-kur), who was hailed by Republican John McCain's presidential campaign in 2008, has won one of nearly 400 seats on the local Republican Party committee in Ohio's Lucas County.

The group elects the county chairman and sets the party agenda. Wurzelbacher won the seat by a 38-24 vote Tuesday in his suburban Toledo precinct.

He became an overnight sensation almost two years ago after questioning then-Sen. Barack Obama on the campaign trail about his economic policies and then when McCain repeatedly cited "Joe the Plumber" in a debate.

Wurzelbacher has since written a book and spoken at conservative gatherings.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Barrington Broadcasting is a member of the AP Network.