Keeping your Joes straight...

When it comes to the battle of the vice-presidents, Biden has one big advantage. His name.

Joe is rapidly becoming a buzzword for both campaigns.  It figured 32 times in last night's debate. Iraq came up just six.

But how do you tell a Joe Schmo from a Joe Biden? Here's the Comment Central breakdown:

Joe Lieberman: (Real)

Democratic Senator turned Independent. A regular on the Straight Talk express and close friend of John McCain's.

Moment in the spotlight: Lieberman was widely touted as a vice presidential possibility. McCain picked Palin.

Joe Six Pack: (Fictional)

Sarah Palin's favourite Joe. The VP candidate has often claimed this product of Main Street as her alter-ego.  He conjures up a beer at the game (hockey obviously) and a family that lives its life outside the DC beltway.

Moment in the spotlight: Putting Joe Six Pack up against Joe Biden in the VP debate

Joe the Plumber: (Real)

The undisputed star of the third and final debate. After meeting Obama on the campaign trail, Joe Wurzelbacher of Ohio found himself at the centre of the McCain camp's new talking points. The question remains. Which way will he vote?

Moment in the spotlight: Racking up more than 20 mentions by McCain and Obama last night.

Joe Biden: (Real)

The senator for Deleware is Obama's vice presidential candidate. Much respected for his experience, Biden has an unfortunate tendency to put his foot in it. The latest gaffe? Telling a wheelchair-bound man to stand up at a rally.

Moment in the spotlight: The occasion, during his primary run, when he called Obama the 'first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean.'

Joe Average: (Fictional - sort of)

The one they're all chasing. This mythical middle American is the one who will turn up in the ballot box on November 4th and decide the race.

Moment in the spotlight: He hasn't had it...yet.

Comments

[Palin]

Palin is awful

[Dave Weeden]

Well, Joe Six-Pack may suggest hockey games to you, but beer is an important element in McCain's recovery plan for America.
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/mccain_s_economic_plan_for_nation

And 'Joe the Plumber' is a registered Republican. When interviewed by Katie Couric (not in person) he proved very fluent. (Although his comparing Obama to Sammy Davis Jr would have been unwise for politician seeking office.)

[John H]

Is Joe the Plumber real? He's more of a media construct loosely attached to the real Joe Wurzelbacher.

And is the question of which way he'll vote really such an open one? The guy's a registered Republican whose family are GOP donors going back for generations, and who called social security "a joke". He's about as much a "swing voter" as Todd Palin.

[The Kitchen Cynic]

Unfortunately it's becoming clear that Joe the Plumber isn't real after all. He's called Sam, he's not a plumber...oh and he's related to McCain's cronies...

[John Wood]

Joe the plumber is not Joe ( He's Samuel) he's not a plumber, the company he wants to "take over" had a turnover ( not profit) of $100,000 last year, and the IRS has placed a hold on his house for non payment of his existing tax bill.
So, apart from that, I'd say it was a shrewd piece of politicking from old Mr McCain.

[John Wood]

Anybody who believes that "pallin around" with terrorists is a bad thing should see what our Mr Blair got up to!. He didn't "pall around", he got them into Pariament!

[NCK]

Will someone please tell me why so many people appear scared of socialism? After seeing exactly were capitalism has got America after 8years I would have thought a change would have been more than welcome.

[Dee]

Samuel Joseph W., goes by Joe, how many people do you know want to be called Sam? Maybe he grew up during Son of Sam. He works for a plumbing company, studying to take his plumbing license. But Obama will just give him money so he doesn't have to improve himself.

[YoubetchaGotcha]

Joe Six-Packs beware -

From Palin's church website:

"For two reasons we urge all believers to avoid the Satanic tool of alcohol which destroys lives, damns souls, and blights society…."

"http://www.ag.org/top/Beliefs/Position_Papers/pp_4187_abstinence.cfm

And yet she panders her beloved "Joe Six Pack" for his votes. If that isn't the definition of hypocrisy, what is? Is it a calculated risk to get low IQ/ignorant votes ? Wake up Joe, you're being used!!!