(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY MATT NOONAN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

He became a cultural icon during the 2008 presidential election:

Barack Obama and John McCain: “Joe the Plumber.” “Joe the Plumber.” “Joe.” “Joe.” “Joe.” “We're talking about Joe the Plumber.” “Joe the Plumber” “Joe the Plumber.” (Video source: BBC)

Joe the plumber is back. His real name is Samuel Wurtzelbacher, and he thinks Washington is going down the drain. That's why the 37 year old Ohio resident wants to become Joe the Congressman. FOX News has the story:

“Remember Joe the Plumber? Who's name is not Joe and is not a plumber? Well he is a candidate. It just happened. He once became a national celebrity back in the 2008 national campaign after he asked President Obama a question about his tax plan. Now Samuel Wurtzelbacher has announced that he's running for Congress in Ohio as a republican."

And his campaign hit the ground running today. In an interview with MSNBC, Wurtzelbacher says Washington has sprung a leak, and he's the man to fix it:

“I'm a plumber, not a politician. I'm going to go to Washington to fix it. That's what people in the trades do, we fix things. Politicians, you know like I said, seem synonymous with liars crooks and thieves.”

Not everyone shares Wurtzelbacher's enthusiasm. CNN's Pete Dominick isn't afraid to tell the candidate to stick to his old line of work:

"Tell him that I got a stuffed animal stuck in my toilet and I'd like to figure out how the heck to get that out, because apparently he's a plumber -- even though he's not a licensed one. And I know he's sitting right next to me, and I think it's an insult that anybody would vote for this guy. He's a joke. And I know he can hear me, and I'll tell him that to his face too."

“Oh Boy. And Joe's a lot bigger than you.”

Supported or not, Wurtzelbacher's campaign is sure to draw plenty of media attention over the next year. But Slate writer David Weigel says that attention is for all the wrong reasons:

"It'll be a campaign between celebrities. It will allow various PACs to fundraise off a big, buzzy race, then spend the money elsewhere. Watch Ohio-9 not for the saga of Joe the Congressman; watch how people exploit it."

Celebrity status has certainly helped candidates in past elections. But Ology.com blogger Noah Rothman says don't expect to see this plumber become the next Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jesse Ventura:

“The district is likely to retain its Democratic-lean and, unless there is a significant wind at Republican backs, his election to Congress remains an unlikely prospect.”

Ohio's 9th district is currently served by 28-year incumbant Marcy Kaptur.

Transcript by Newsy.