# Joe the Plumber died, age 49 (2008 election)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-died-age-49-2008-election/989243>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 28, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-died-age-49-2008-election/989243 "2023-08-28T20:55:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-died-age-49-2008-election/989243/1 "2023-08-28T20:55:20Z")

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He asked a question about candidate Obama’s economic plan. There was concern small businesses like a plumbing shop would pay extra taxes.

Joe was a media sensation for awhile. The Republicans tried to use him.

Cancer killed him at 49.

> **[Joe the Plumber, who questioned Obama's tax plans during 2008 campaign, dead...](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-the-plumber-questioned-obamas-tax-policies-2008-campaign-dead-at-49/)**
>
> Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher, who became known as "Joe the Plumber" during the 2008 presidential race, died Sunday.

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-died-age-49-2008-election/989243/2 "2023-08-28T20:56:46Z")

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There’s an existing thread on the topic, in Politics & Elections:

> [@'Joe the Plumber' has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-has-died/989234/):
>
> In July, he announced that he had pancreatic cancer.

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**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-died-age-49-2008-election/989243/3 "2023-08-28T20:58:07Z")

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Ok, I didn’t realize events from 2008 would fit in that category.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-died-age-49-2008-election/989243/4 "2023-08-28T21:12:35Z")

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2023, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-died-age-49-2008-election/989243/5 "2023-08-28T21:14:31Z")

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As pointed out, Pre-existing thread is here:

> [@'Joe the Plumber' has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/joe-the-plumber-has-died/989234):
>
> In July, he announced that he had pancreatic cancer.

Thank you @kenobi_65