NO RAIN NO GAIN: Senator Barack Obama, Widener University, Chester, Tuesday Morning [Photos by AP & GETTY IMAGES]
NEW YORK TIMES: Despite a cold, steady rain and driving winds, Senator Barack Obama addressed a crowd of about 9,000 at Widener University in Chester, just outside Philadelphia, praising their dedication and promising tax cuts and solutions for the country’s economic woes. The punishing weather forced Senator John McCain and his vice presidential running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, to cancel a rally in Quakertown, about 80 miles to the north. MORE
PLUMBING THE DEPTHS: No Show Joe (The Plumber)
Senator, he’s over at Geno’s getting a cheesesteak. Seriously, he was on The Big Talker last night right after me. Dom Giordano was broadcasting live from Joey Vento’s last night and Joe the Plumber was in town for “a charity unrelated to the campaign.” Joe the Plumber has a publicist now.
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR: Hey Joe, there’s only five days to go before the election. Ya’ think you can clear out your schedule just long enough to help someone campaign for President of the United States? Perhaps that’s what John McCain was thinking when his new best friend, Joe Wurzelbacher, aka Joe the Plumber didn’t show up to a rally today in Ohio. The plumber, who became a central part of the McCain campaign after pointedly questioning Barack Obama on his tax proposal, was a no-show. Some speculated he was fired after dispensing 
foreign policy advice at a rally two days ago.
“Joe’s with us today,” McCain said at a rally (not knowing he was stood up). “Joe where are ya?” questioned McCain. “Joe, I thought you were here today…,” he said, trailing off. A true politician, the Republican rebounded by yelling, “You’re all Joe the Plumbers! So all of you stand up!” So what the heck happened to Joe? He was home. As it turns out, he didn’t know he was supposed to attend. CNN, always resourceful, called Joe. They report it was “news to him” that he was supposed to be there, but that he was making plans to join the Republican nominee later in the day. The network also reported Joe was “not happy” about the incident this morning. CNN said Wurzelbacher was planning to go to Philadelphia to appear at a charity event not related to the campaign. MORE