Matt Ortega

One of my favorite blogs on the web is the FAIL Blog and the latest e-mail from the McCain/Palin campaign should be a nominee for that site. Boston Globe reports that a recent poll shows that the “Joe the Plumber” message that the Republican ticket first tried at the final presidential debate and continue to use is ineffective in Ohio and Missouri — must-win states for Senator John McCain (R-Arizona).

Meanwhile, the Republican ticket’s emphasis on Joe the plumber — the Ohio man who challenged Obama on his tax plan and who McCain and running mate Sarah Palin are trying to turn into a symbol — is not paying huge dividends, according to the poll.

While 68 percent of Ohio respondents said they recognized Joe the plumber, only 6 percent said that Joe’s story will make them more likely to vote for McCain. An additional 4 percent said the tale made them more likely to vote for Obama; and 85 percent were not affected. In Missouri, where 80 percent had heard of the plumber, 8 percent said they were more likely to vote McCain, 3 percent more likely to vote Obama, and 86 percent said they were not affected by his story. [emphasis added]

So what are the “team of mavericks” pushing this morning?

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: McCain-Palin Team <ecampaign@johnmccain.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Subject: I’m Joe the Plumber
To: Matt Ortega