Perhaps intrigued by the chilly response, Obama stopped to talk with Wurzelbacher, who was playing football with his son in his front yard. He just asked a smart question. The rest became history when Obama replied he wanted to “spread the wealth.”

As a result, Obama and Sen. John McCain mentioned Wurzelbacher – Joe the Plumber – more than 15 times in that final debate. He instantly became a symbol for middle-class America and the poster child for McCain’s last gasp victory strategy.

In fact, he had played a walk-on part in Obama’s most serious campaign slip up. By sunup the next day, the official powers of the state of Ohio were looking to discredit Wurzelbacher.

Obama backers in state government, including appointees of Gov. Ted Strickland, conducted database searches at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Taxation, digging up information about the Toledo-area tradesman. The office of acting Attorney General Nancy Rogers, a Democrat, is at the center of the

growing scandal.

Columbus wags say Rogers was just appointed a few months ago by Strickland to replace a disgraced predecessor and not a likely culprit. She did not run for her own office in the November election and is a stickler for legality.

Some say Strickland, an avid Hillary Clinton supporter, also isn’t likely to have bent the rules for Obama. Still, the governor campaigned tirelessly to deliver Ohio for the Democrat nominee. More importantly, his close adviser Aaron Pickrell served as Obama’s Ohio campaign manager.

Presidential campaign experts I know say any rush for confidential sources the morning after the debate would have likely involved Pickrell, and maybe Obama headquarters. But if New York State is any example, partisan abuse of state resources won’t be properly investigated and Democrat state officials may huddle and hide.

In 2007, media revelations described New York Gov. Elliott Spitzer’s use of State Police resources in an attempt to discredit his State Senate Republican enemy. Caught red handed in the conspiracy, Spitzer aides lost their jobs and state investigators worked to play down Spitzer’s own involvement.

The game played out all over Albany; Spitzer cronies worked hard to hide the truth. His handpicked Inspector General faked a bogus review, the New York State Public Integrity Commission – a group run by Spitzer appointees – whitewashed his involvement, while his close political ally, Albany District Attorney David Soares, punted two investigations into the matter.

In contrast, Democrat Attorney General Andrew Cuomo issued a damning report on Troopergate. His investigation was hobbled, however, as the governor refused to give his party rival the authority to issue subpoenas in the matter.

Following Spitzer’s March 2008 resignation for hiring prostitutes, his Integrity Commission cleared him of Troopergate. Transcripts showed Spitzer to be positively Clintonesque, arguing he merely “permitted” the abuse of state resources, but did not “direct” it. His appointees bought it, but Albany veterans find his claim incredible.

With Troopergate bungled and buried, cynical New Yorkers shrugged last week when U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia announced he would not pursue criminal charges against Spitzer for buying women in prostitution. Their sentiment: Where’s the surprise? New York’s wealthy and powerful are above the law.

Will Ohioans hear the same hubris: senior Democrat official X “permitted” but did not “direct” the abuse of state resources? Maybe not.

Columbus insiders say Inspector General Charles is a thorough and nonpartisan investigator. First appointed as Ohio’s top watchdog by Republican Gov. George Voinovich in 1998, he was reappointed by Democrat Strickland.

Hunting corruption, he has bagged a Democrat attorney general, a Republican governor and his wealthy backer, high-ranking appointees, free-spending bureaucrats and more.

What did Gov. Strickland and his appointees know, and when did they know it? With his trademark zeal for the truth, Charles might well uncover what really happened the morning after the final debate – and who decided it was fine to abuse state resources and violate Joe the Plumber’s rights to elect Barack Obama.

A writer based in Miami, Michael R. Caputo worked on the Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp and George H.W. Bush Republican presidential campaigns.