‘Joe the Plumber’ files paperwork for congressional run

Joseph Wurzelbacher, the Ohio man made famous for an exchange with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama outside his house in 2008, has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for Congress in Ohio's 9th District.

Wurzelbacher filed on Friday and now has completed the paperwork for "Joe for Congress 2012," his official campaign committee.

The Toledo Blade reported in August that several Ohio Republicans were encouraging him to run, and Wurzelbacher said he was open to the idea, but this is the first official step toward announcing his candidacy. When reached by phone, Wurzelbacher said he was "exploring the possibilities," but the documents show that a campaign is in the works.

"Maybe we need some regular guys in there," Wurzelbacher told The Ticket in August. "That's what I've been doing the past two and a half years, just encouraging regular Americans to run. Tell the liberal media to go to hell and I don't care what you guys say about me, I'm going to try to fix this country."

Wurzelbacher has spent the past three years speaking at tea party rallies and conservative conferences. He most recently helped start an organization for wounded veterans.

Capital New York was the first to report the filings.

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