‘Joe the Plumber’, who challenged Obama on taxes in 2008, dies aged 49

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, famous for arguing with Barack Obama on the campaign trail, died of pancreatic cancer

Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, who shot to brief fame during the 2008 US presidential election as Joe the Plumber", has died aged 49. Cause of death was pancreatic cancer, his wife, Katie Wurzelbacher, told news outlets.

Fifteen years ago, Wurzelbacher became famous after arguing with the then Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, on the campaign trail in Toledo, Ohio. Wurzelbacher asked Obama if he would pay more taxes if the Democrat won. Obama, then a US senator from Illinois, conceded that he might.