DURHAM--Political analysts gathered at a debate forum proclaimed "Joe the plumber" the star of the last presidential debate.
The analysts also said that McCain had his best debate performance in the first half of the debate.
"The winner tonight is clearly Joe the plumber," Steve Marchand, former mayor of Portsmouth, told the crowd.
Rich Killion, a Republican consultant, said that McCain used the "Joe the plumber" line because the Arizona Senator wanted to appeal to middle-class voters.