Chapter 763: Plumber Joe, Well-Informed Martin
"Do you know Martin?"
Daniel Kaluuya's eyes widened, his small ambitions momentarily shelved.
The girl squinted slyly. "Of course I know Martin."
In her mind, she added, But he might not know me.
Daniel, fooled, said, "Kris, I just saw Martin head to a small meeting room with some people."
"Women?" Kristen Stewart asked.
"No, they looked like… uh, business types? Politicians? I don't know, but it seemed serious."
"Alright, I won't bother him then," Kristen said.
…
In the meeting room, Martin leaned forward. "So, you've reached an agreement with Hillary?"
"Yes," the gray-haired middle-aged man replied respectfully. "Mr. Obama has pledged to fully support Hillary's presidential run after his term."
"Wow, that's a hell of a blank check—and one Hillary can't refuse," Martin said with a grin.
He shifted gears. "So, Florida's no longer an issue?"
"Correct. Hillary and Bill Clinton will personally campaign there. It's their stronghold."
Martin nodded. "Tell Barack that California won't be a problem either. I'll be there to back him."
The man smiled, exactly what he'd hoped to hear. He bowed slightly. "With your support, Mr. Obama's chances of winning the presidency are significantly boosted."
"Don't get cocky," Martin warned. "I hear McCain's team is digging into that plumber."
The man froze. "Is that so?"
He didn't dare dismiss it. "I'll report to Mr. Obama immediately."
The so-called "Plumber Joe" was a political stunt by Obama's campaign. Two weeks earlier, while visiting Toledo, Ohio, Obama had a "chance" encounter with a plumber named Joe, engaging in a friendly chat. Joe, unfazed, even debated Obama on the street.
The cameras tailing Obama captured it all: Joe, the plumber, sparring with Obama as he toured Toledo's neighborhoods.
"You believe in the American Dream, right? Owning my own shop is my dream, but if you raise taxes on incomes over $250,000, I'm worried I'll get hit hard. I don't agree with your tax plan…"
The exchange made "Joe" a sensation. McCain referenced him over 20 times in debates, turning him into a conservative darling for attacking Obama's tax policies.
But Joe was a plant—a calculated move by Obama's team to showcase his openness to dissent and "everyman" appeal. When McCain used Joe to jab at Obama, Joe became a weapon for Obama's camp.
It was bait, and McCain bit.
In the second debate, Joe, who McCain had leaned on heavily in the first, showed up in person. Before the event, he told the press, "I disagree with Mr. Obama's tax plan, but I'm voting for him because…"
The crowd saw McCain's embarrassment plain as day. Joe, the "opponent-turned-supporter," became a media star, potentially swaying voters. Meanwhile, McCain's earlier attacks backfired—Joe became a liability, reminding voters of McCain's missteps, which hurt his campaign.
So, before voting began, McCain's team moved to neutralize the "Joe problem."
On October 16, the Associated Press ran a story: "Is Joe Really a Plumber?" It revealed Joe's real name was Samuel, he lacked a plumber's license, didn't earn enough to buy a shop netting $250,000 a year, and owed Ohio $1,182.98 in back taxes, landing him in court.
Toledo's plumbers' union head, Tony, weighed in: "Him calling himself a plumber is shameful. But real plumbers like Joe support Obama."
"What the hell?" McCain crumpled the newspaper and hurled it. "Didn't you say you had Tony handled? Why'd he add that last bit?"
His aides went silent. They'd paid Tony $10,000 to say the first part, but unbeknownst to them, Obama's team swooped in right after, offering $20,000 to tack on the pro-Obama line.
Obama himself stepped up for Joe: "License or not, it's irrelevant. The media's blowing this out of proportion. Most plumbers work for licensed employers and still call themselves plumbers. If Joe's stance helps Democrats, would the media and unions attack him so fiercely?"
The controversy, poised to stir waves, was deftly defused by Obama's camp.
In Washington, at Obama's office:
"Thank God for Martin's heads-up, or McCain's team would've made a bigger deal out of Joe's flaws," an aide said.
"Martin's intel is unbelieveable," another agreed. "He's been a game-changer."
…
The Times: "The U.S. presidential election proves one truth: money doesn't buy everything, but without it, you get nothing. The presidency is forged in financial power. Without ample funds, names like Kennedy, Reagan, or Clinton wouldn't have reached the White House…"
The New York Times: "After three televised debates, Americans have a clearer view of Obama and McCain. More believe McCain's attacks on Obama are unfair. Currently, 53% of voters view Obama favorably, up 10% from last month, with only 33% unfavorable. In contrast, only 36% view McCain positively, while 45% view him negatively. Even some prior McCain supporters say their enthusiasm is fading…"
The Hollywood Star: "Last night, The Joker's crew threw a lavish party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, attended by over 200 guests. After the event, our reporter spotted Martin leaving with a stunning, unfamiliar woman…"