'Joe the Plumber', famous for confronting Barack Obama during his 2008 campaign, dies at 49

Samuel Wurzelbacher, known as “Joe the Plumber”, who rose to police fame after questioning Barack Obama about his economic policies in the 2008 presidential campaign, has died at the age of 49, as confirmed by his son on Monday.

Joey Wurzelbacher, who is his eldest son, said his father died Sunday in Wisconsin after suffering from pancreatic cancer, which required an online fundraiser driven by his family.

“All I have to say is that he was a true patriot,” Joey Wurzelbacher said. “His great objective of him is that everyone gets closer to God. That’s what he taught me, and that’s a message that I hope a lot of people hear.”

“Joe the Plumber” went from his job as a plumber in Ohio to becoming a national media sensation by berating Obama about his tax plan while on the campaign trail.

The exchange of words with the then candidate, who stated that he wanted to “distribute the wealth”, went viral at that time, causing days later, the US senator, and Republican opponent, John McCain, to quote him as “Joe the Plumber”. during a presidential debate.

Wurzelbacher then went on to campaign with McCain and his running mate, Sarah Palin, who was also Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin. However, he later criticized McCain in his book and claimed that he did not want him as a presidential candidate for the Republican Party.

In addition to writing a book, fame led “Joe the Plumber” to be a reference for many anti-establishment conservatives, and he came to travel across the country to offer rallies.

Wurzelbacher even made his foray into politics in 2012, trying to win a House seat in Ohio, but was soundly defeated by Democrat Marcy Kaptur.

Although Republicans selected him to run thinking his fame would help raise enough money for serious aspirations, his campaign received criticism for suggesting that the United States should build a fence on the border with Mexico to “shoot” immigrants suspected of entering the United States. .UU. illegally.

After his brief stint in politics, “Joe the Plumber” returned to his old trade, said his family, made up of his wife, Katie, and their four children.

With information from ABC News