WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsMeet Joe Plummer

Meet Joe Plummer

Ellsworth, Wis. (WQOW) - It seemed the third and final presidential debate was about Joe as much as it was about John or Barack.

Joe the plumber became an overnight sensation.

Joe is from Ohio. He wants to buy his own plumbing business and recently questioned Senator Obama about how his tax plan would affect him. In Wednesday's debate, Joe was mentioned 23 times.

On Thursday, as much of the country talked about Joe the plumber, News 18 found a local business owner who might share some of the same concerns and his name happens to be: Joe Plummer.

The candidates sure had a lot to say about one particular individual Wednesday night.

Well, meet Joe Plummer. No, not the plumber from Ohio. This is Joe Plummer: business owner, western Wisconsin resident and concerned voter.

"The economy is probably at an all time low since I've been of voting age for sure. There's so many issues. I think we're at such a turning point right now for the country," says Joe Plummer.

Unlike the plumber from Ohio that the candidates kept referring to, Mr. Plummer actually owns a business. He has around 90 employees and works mainly in commercial and residential concrete. And like the plumber from Ohio this Joe has some concerns.

"The biggest thing on my mind, who has the best plan to turn the economy around. I think everything will fall into place behind that. If we can strengthen the economy, we will be able to afford the insurance," says Joe.

Now Joe says he was quite surprised by all the Joe the plumber references during Wednesday's debate.

"I laughed about it of course," says Joe.

But says he's pretty much made up his mind.

"It didn't affect the way I thought," he says.

Despite his decision on a candidate Joe says he's happy both candidates spent so much time talking about what matters most in this election. The regular joes like him.

You could certainly understand both Joe Plummer and Joe the plumber wouldn't reveal which candidate they're voting for next month.