Country making cracks about plumbers named Joe

DALLAS — Turns out that there are Joe Plumbers all over the country.

At least one is already better off, thanks to references by presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to Ohio resident Joe Wurzelbacher — now famously "Joe the Plumber" — as they debated tax policies Wednesday night.

Phones rang off the hook Thursday in the Amarillo office of plumber Joe Francis, whose Web site joetheplumber.com became an instant Internet curiosity. Entrepreneurs hoping to cash in on a quick buck called about buying the Web address. Many others want T-shirts with the company logo.

In southern New Jersey, Joe Griesbach was signing autographs and granting TV interviews, according to The Press of Atlantic City. He goes by "Plumber Joe."

And in Oxnard, Calif., plumber Joe Lara said the debate prompted a flood of phone calls, some from as far away as London, the Ventura County Star reported.

Lara, 49, works for himself as Joe the Plumber and said he works seven days a week.