For California viewers, Joe the Plumber was a distraction
- Story | Florida's Republican governor discounts ACORN charges
- Story | Again, not everything said in debate was true
- Story | McCain brings best and worst to final debate
- Story | McCain comes out swinging against Obama
- Story | ACORN may be victim of its own workers in registration cases
- Story | Infrastructure: Nation's physical plant another crisis for next president
- Story | Deficit: Trillion-dollar shortfall looms, but what will the candidates do?
- Story | Report: Taxpayers paid for GOP politicking in 2006 elections
- Story | K.C. lawyer sues, saying McCain campaign incited violence
- Story | Poll: Voters think Obama's done better explaining economy
- Story | October surprise: Oliver Stone's 'W.' doesn't have one
- Story | GOP takes down Web material linking Obama to Bin Laden
- Story | Democrats have wide registration lead in key states
- Story | Palin's tour on national stage angers friends, foes at home
- Story | Sunday's C-Span opportunity: 3rd-party candidates debate
- On the Web | Complete McClatchy election coverage
By Peter Hecht | Sacramento Bee
At the end of the final presidential debate of 2008, the students gathered to watch Wednesday night at Sacramento State had to answer a critical question.
"Which candidate," asked government professor Kimberly Nalder, "has the Joe-mentum?"
The answer from two dozen students – a near-even split of Democrats, Republicans and independents – was clear: Barack Obama was more persuasive than John McCain.
But the biggest loser was Joe the Plumber.
McCain's debate strategy to wrest momentum from Obama by constantly referring to the circumstances of Joe Wurzelbacher was roundly ridiculed by the students, mostly government majors.
They also criticized Obama for picking up McCain's tactics and proceeding to speak directly to Joe.
The candidates may have seen the Ohio man as a metaphor for which Americans would benefit from their policies on health care, taxes and the economy. But Aliza Egger concluded "the use of Joe the Plumber was an emotional ploy" and a distraction from the substance she wanted to hear.
"I wanted this debate to introduce me to the candidates," said Egger, a Republican. "Joe the Plumber was almost a joke to me. I felt let down."
Read the complete story at sacbee.com
We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. Obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules.
Comments are displayed newest first. If you would like to read a thread from beginning to end, select "Oldest first" from the drop down menu.
@Nyx.CommentBody@