Ohio ’08 Documentary: Joe the Plumber Mobilized Dems

A documentary is in the works from New York-based filmmaker Matt Meyer on how Joe Wurzelbacher’s (aka “Joe the Plumber”) rise to national prominence–and Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) repeated references to Wurzelbacher during the campaign–energized working-class Democrats and helped then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) carry Ohio.

The documentary will focus on campaign activism by Local 50 of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry (UA) spurred by McCain’s “Joe the Plumber” phenomenon. In the film, union workers and activists voice passionate skepticism of McCain’s claims to represent working-class Americans.

“I think [the “Joe the Plumber” phenomenon] probably had an effect that they weren’t looking for, so I think it had a reverse effect on us. It energized our people and actually probably gave us more volunteers than we would have otherwise had,” AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka says in the film. UA is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, and its political volunteers were organized by the AFL-CIO’s political program.

A trailer of the film was unveiled at political hangout bar Stetson’s last night in Washington, D.C.’s U St. area.

Watch the trailer below: