http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24887231-5003402,00.html

By staff writers

JOE the Plumber has become Joe the War Correspondent, with the unlikely star of the US presidential election campaign being sent to report on the conflict in Gaza.

"It's tragic, I mean it really is,” Wurzelbacher told Ohio television station WNWO.

“I don't say that in any little way. It's very tragic, but at the same time what are the Israeli people supposed to do?”

Wurzelbacher said he was not concerned about heading into a warzone for a 10 days.

"Being a Christian I'm pretty well protected by God I believe. That's not saying he's going to stop a mortar for me, but you gotta take the chance,” he told WNWO.

Wurzelbacher became a household name in the US when he challenged Barack Obama over plans to raise taxes on those earning over $US250,000 ($350,000).

In a presidential debate, Senator John McCain made repeated references to "Joe the plumber" and Wurzelbacher later joined the Republican candidate on the campaign trail.

“If given the opportunity to do some good however minute it may be, or could be something really good, you gotta take that chance. You have to do it," Wurzelbacher said of his new job.

Click here to read more about Joe the War Correspondent at WNWO.