Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm Chapter 778 - 763: The Well-Connected “Plumber” and Martin’s

"Do you know Martin?"

Daniel Kaluuya's eyes widened, his small ambitions montarily shelved.

The girl squinted slyly. "Of course I know Martin."

In her mind, she added, But he might not know .

Daniel, fooled, said, "Kris, I just saw Martin head to a small eting room with so people."

"Won?" Kristen Stewart asked.

"No, they looked like… uh, business types? Politicians? I don't know, but it seed serious."

"Alright, I won't bother him then," Kristen said.

…

In the eting room, Martin leaned forward. "So, you've reached an agreent with Hillary?"

"Yes," the gray-haired middle-aged man replied respectfully. "Mr. Obama has pledged to fully support Hillary's presidential run after his term."

"Wow, that's a hell of a blank check—and one Hillary can't refuse," Martin said with a grin.

He shifted gears. "So, Florida's no longer an issue?"

"Correct. Hillary and Bill Clinton will personally campaign there. It's their stronghold."

Martin nodded. "Tell Barack that California won't be a problem either. I'll be there to back him."

The man smiled, exactly what he'd hoped to hear. He bowed slightly. "With your support, Mr. Obama's chances of winning the presidency are significantly boosted."

"Don't get cocky," Martin warned. "I hear McCain's team is digging into that plumber."

The man froze. "Is that so?"

He didn't dare dismiss it. "I'll report to Mr. Obama imdiately."

The so-called "Plumber Joe" was a political stunt by Obama's campaign. Two weeks earlier, while visiting Toledo, Ohio, Obama had a "chance" encounter with a plumber nad Joe, engaging in a friendly chat. Joe, unfazed, even debated Obama on the street.

The caras tailing Obama captured it all: Joe, the plumber, sparring with Obama as he toured Toledo's neighborhoods.

"You believe in the Arican Dream, right? Owning my own shop is my dream, but if you raise taxes on incos over $250,000, I'm worried I'll get hit hard. I don't agree with your tax plan…"

The exchange made "Joe" a sensation. McCain referenced him over 20 tis in debates, turning him into a conservative darling for attacking Obama's tax policies.

But Joe was a plant—a calculated move by Obama's team to showcase his openness to dissent and "everyman" appeal. When McCain used Joe to jab at Obama, Joe beca a weapon for Obama's camp.

It was bait, and McCain bit.

In the second debate, Joe, who McCain had leaned on heavily in the first, showed up in person. Before the event, he told the press, "I disagree with Mr. Obama's tax plan, but I'm voting for him because…"

The crowd saw McCain's embarrassnt plain as day. Joe, the "opponent-turned-supporter," beca a dia star, potentially swaying voters. anwhile, McCain's earlier attacks backfired—Joe beca a liability, reminding voters of McCain's missteps, which hurt his campaign.

So, before voting began, McCain's team moved to neutralize the "Joe problem."

On October 16, the Associated Press ran a story: "Is Joe Really a Plumber?" It revealed Joe's real na was Samuel, he lacked a plumber's license, didn't earn enough to buy a shop netting $250,000 a year, and owed Ohio $1,182.98 in back taxes, landing him in court.

Toledo's plumbers' union head, Tony, weighed in: "Him calling himself a plumber is shaful. But real plumbers like Joe support Obama."

"What the hell?" McCain crumpled the newspaper and hurled it. "Didn't you say you had Tony handled? Why'd he add that last bit?"

His aides went silent. They'd paid Tony $10,000 to say the first part, but unbeknownst to them, Obama's team swooped in right after, offering $20,000 to tack on the pro-Obama line.

Obama himself stepped up for Joe: "License or not, it's irrelevant. The dia's blowing this out of proportion. Most plumbers work for licensed employers and still call themselves plumbers. If Joe's stance helps Democrats, would the dia and unions attack him so fiercely?"

The controversy, poised to stir waves, was deftly defused by Obama's camp.

In Washington, at Obama's office:

"Thank God for Martin's heads-up, or McCain's team would've made a bigger deal out of Joe's flaws," an aide said.

"Martin's intel is unbelieveable," another agreed. "He's been a ga-changer."

…

The Tis: "The U.S. presidential election proves one truth: money doesn't buy everything, but without it, you get nothing. The presidency is forged in financial power. Without ample funds, nas like Kennedy, Reagan, or Clinton wouldn't have reached the White House…"

The New York Tis: "After three televised debates, Aricans have a clearer view of Obama and McCain. More believe McCain's attacks on Obama are unfair. Currently, 53% of voters view Obama favorably, up 10% from last month, with only 33% unfavorable. In contrast, only 36% view McCain positively, while 45% view him negatively. Even so prior McCain supporters say their enthusiasm is fading…"

The Hollywood Star: "Last night, The Joker's crew threw a lavish party at the Beverly Hills Hotel, attended by over 200 guests. After the event, our reporter spotted Martin leaving with a stunning, unfamiliar woman…"