Voters making less than 50K?

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gkM0JvRRUl81LuDA_P2t_goU2kGAD93VU2200

McCain is somehow gaining advantage in the newest poll after his debate last Wednesday. Were people actually listening to that debate? Somehow McCain has convinced people that he is going to help the people making less than 50K. His increase in that market is staggering to me. When have republicans ever helped the little guy?

"...Here are some important facts to consider: since 1948, the economy has grown faster on average under Democratic presidents than under Republicans; and income inequality trended 'substantially upward under Republican presidents but slightly downward under Democrats,' according to Princeton professor of political science, Larry M. Bartels, author of Unequal Democracy." - The Nation

It seems strange that the "real Americans" support someone that has never helped them. The Joe the Plumber story makes even less sense. This is not an average Joe. He was asking Obama about how his tax program would affect him when he was buying his plumbing business. How many average Joe's own a plumbing business that is set to make more than 250K?

Somehow throughout all this mess, the average Joe - the real average Joe - has turned to the dark side. Are people that easily led? That one story about a plumber would convince them that Republicans have changed their ways for the last, how many years, and are now fighting for the little guy. Is it because Palin seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator amongst those "real Americans"?