Dinner with Barack: The Mini Movies

Obama Campaign releases five new videos from inside President's dinner with contest winners...
President Obama this week announced the third "Dinner with Barack" contest to raise money for his 2012 re-election war chest. To build interest among donors, Obama for America released five new videos from inside the first contest dinner President Obama has completed, his meal on Oct. 27 at Liberty Tavern in Arlington, Virginia. The President's press pool was allowed into the dining room for less than one minute during the event for a rapid photo op, so the Campaign videos are the first extended look at what occurred as four "everyday Americans" broke bread with the Commander in Chief. The longest video is more than eight minutes long, and edited like a feature film. (Above, the President with from L Knight, Smith, Helbling, and Martinez).

The winners were Juanita Martinez, a retired teacher from Brighton, Colorado; Casey Helbling, a software entrepreneur and small-business owner from Minneapolis, Minn.; Ken Knight, a U.S. postal worker from Chandler, Arizona; and Wendi Smith, a retired professor and artist from Corydon, Indiana. Helbling is such a huge Obama supporter he named one of his children "Maxwell Barack," he revealed after the dinner. All had to sign documents agreeing to be used--without pay--in campaign materials. Each prize, taxable by the IRS, was valued at $1,075, and included air fare to DC and a one-night hotel stay for the guests. The prizes did not include make up and hair service for the winners, as they made their feature film debuts.



The dinner was just 70 minutes long; the guests declined the President's offer of dessert. The longest mini-movie, above, is titled "Dinner With Barack: Two Teachers, an Army Veteran, a Small Business Owner and The President." It's edited to build excitement, and shows the President's guests arriving in Washington and being wowed by the monuments, while discussing their thrill over the upcoming dinner with Mr. Obama. Then it transitions to the restaurant, and shows edited portions of the Presidential mealtime conversation. The other four videos are shorter vignettes of the table talk, edited by theme.

For the record, the President at dinner enjoyed the "Harpoon Caught Swordfish," which is regularly featured on The Liberty Tavern menu. It's served "Portuguese style," with white beans, sweet peppers, lamb sausage escarole, and Littleneck clam sauce ($22). He washed it down with iced tea, though his companions drank wine. Before this week's video releases, the four winners had previously dished about their dinner to various media outlets, as well as put out statements for Campaign HQ.



Above, in this 1:05-long clip, "Dinner With Barack: The Impact of My Father," the President is asked by one of his guests about the "negative impact" of not knowing his father, who left when he was a small child. It's the most moving of the videos.

"As I look back on my life, I only remember my father for one month of my whole life," President Obama said. "When I was ten."

His father, however, introduced him to all the things he became passionate about, the President said--among these basketball and jazz--and the absence made him realize how important it is to be a good father to daughters Malia and Sasha.



Above, in the 1:04-long "Dinner With Barack: A Typical Day," Mr. Obama discusses what might occur on any given day of the Presidency. The days are "packed," the President said, noting that he's "not a morning person." The last time he was awakened in the middle of the night for an emergency was for the Japan earthquake and tsunami, the President said, "probably around 3 in the morning."

"At 6:30, even if I'm really busy, I'll stop, go upstairs, and have dinner with the girls," the President said.



Above, in the 1:02-long "Dinner With Barack: Why Education Is important," the President and his guests discuss education issues, as the title implies.



Above, the final 52-second video is a teaser, billed as "Video Preview: Dinner with Barack." The President talks about the challenges of trick-or-treating in public with his daughters, now that he's Commander in Chief. Last time he "pulled it off," Mr. Obama said, was in 2007.

Other dinners...
The President will dine at a later date with four more donors from the Campaign's second contest, the "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes, held during fundraising quarter 3, July-September. The winners' names have not yet been released. In an interview in September, Campaign Deputy Press Secretary Katie Hogan told Obama Foodorama that there was no way to determine how many donors have actually given money in order to be entered in the dinner contests; she said that donations for the dinner contests were not specifically tracked, which seems hard to believe. Donors for the second and third contests were and are automatically entered into the dinner pool, but that was not the case for the first dinner contest. Entering the contests without donating is/was possible, too.

The third contest closes on December 31, and will have three winners, each of whom can bring a guest. The Campaign is already heavily promoting the third dinner contest, and this week sent a Thanksgiving e-mail to woo donors.

*Videos by OFA; photo by AP/Pool

read more "Dinner with Barack: The Mini Movies"

"Dinner with Barack," Thanksgiving Edition

Dinner with the President is the perfect holiday gift for family members, Obama Campaign advises...
Update, Nov. 27: Campaign releases 5 new videos from the first "Dinner with Barack"
As President Obama was pardoning the National Thanksgiving Turkey on Wednesday morning, his 2012 Campaign operation sent out an e-mail to supporters, urging donations for the newly launched "Dinner with Barack" contest, the third sweepstakes offering an intimate dinner with the Eater in Chief. It was timed for Thanksgiving and holiday gift giving: The latest enticement for donors is that each contest winner can bring a guest. "Who do you want to meet the President?" asked Rufus Gifford, National Finance Director. (Above: A new logo for the contest)

"As you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, look around the table and ask yourself: Who would you bring?" wrote Gifford. "It's hard to think of a better gift for your parent, spouse, child, or best friend than the chance to accompany you to dinner with President Obama."

The donation ask was $3. The assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner, to $1,600 for the current dinner, which includes airfare and a hotel stay. President Obama has completed one "Dinner with Barack" event with donors; he dined last month at a Virginia restaurant with the four winners of the first contest.

"I'd bring my mom" to the dinner, Gifford wrote. The contest closes on December 31.

The e-mail had the subject heading ""Who do you want to meet the President?"

The text:

Friend --

We just launched our next Dinner with Barack contest, and this time there's a big new twist: Each winner can invite a guest.

So as you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow, look around the table and ask yourself: Who would you bring?

It's hard to think of a better gift for your parent, spouse, child, or best friend than the chance to accompany you to dinner with President Obama.

To be automatically entered right now, make a donation of $3 or whatever you can today.

When you do, you'll be helping fund this campaign as we near a critical fundraising deadline at the end of the year -- just three days before voters in Iowa head to the caucus and the 2012 election formally kicks off.

President Obama wants to connect face to face with the people who are chipping in however they can to grow this campaign.

So this time we're asking the three people who win to bring along a guest: maybe your significant other, or the friend who first got you involved in this movement. I'd bring my mom.

Thanksgiving is a perfect time to start thinking about whom you'd pick.

So throw your hat in today with a gift of $3 -- and be automatically entered for Dinner with Barack:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks,

Rufus

Rufus Gifford
National Finance Director
Obama for America
##

read more ""Dinner with Barack," Thanksgiving Edition"

Presidential Dining Deja Vu: Obama Announces Third "Dinner with Barack" Contest

Retail value of dinner with President has skyrocketed..and this time, the three winners can bring guests...
Update, Nov. 27: Campaign releases 5 new videos from the first "Dinner with Barack"
The global economy may be in hot water, but the value of dinner with President Obama has gone up. In an effort to raise funds for the 2012 re-election campaign, President Obama is for the third time raffling himself off as a dinner date, he announced today in an e-mail to supporters. While the President is a cheap date--dinner can be had for just a $3 donation--the assigned retail value of the prize package has jumped from $1,075 for the first dinner, to $1,600 for the current dinner, which includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay. As an extra enticement for supporters, the contest is now two-for-one: Each winner can bring a companion. (Above: The new logo for the new dinner sweepstakes)

"We're taking names for the next dinner starting now, and this time I want to add a new feature: If you win, you can bring a guest," President Obama wrote.

This time there will be three dinner winners, rather than four, for a total of six guests sharing a meal with the President. It's proved to be a popular fundraiser, but the phrase "we're taking names" sounds a bit Orwellian, doesn't it? As he notes in his e-mail, the President dined on October 27th at a Virginia restaurant with the four winners of the first contest. He has yet to dine with the four winners of the second sweepstakes, and the Campaign has not released their names. The current contest closes for entries on Dec. 31. The prize is taxable, and no donation is *actually* needed to enter the contest.

The e-mail had the subject heading "You and a guest".

The text:

Friend--

A few Thursdays ago, I had dinner with four Americans named Ken, Casey, Juanita, and Wendi -- the winners of the campaign's first Dinner with Barack contest.

I loved getting to know each of them.

We're taking names for the next dinner starting now, and this time I want to add a new feature: If you win, you can bring a guest.

Chip in $3 or more today to be automatically entered to win a spot for you and a guest at the next dinner.

The folks who this election is all about tend to fall under the radar of the D.C. pundits and traditional news media.

They're people like Juanita, who helped put her three sons through college on a teacher's salary while saving what she could for retirement.

Like Ken, a single dad who stood by his mother as she fought insurance companies while battling two forms of cancer.

They're like Casey, whose three young kids may not yet appreciate what courage it took for their dad to take a chance and start his own business.

And Wendi, an artist and third-generation teacher who canvassed, marched, and phone banked in Indiana in 2008, the year her home state defied the traditional electoral map.

These people weren't just there for themselves -- they were representing you, this movement, and the folks I go to work for every day as president.

These dinners are important to me because I want to spend time whenever I can with the people who sent me here. They're proving wrong the conventional wisdom that says campaigns should cater to Washington lobbyists and powerful interests. And they're an important reminder that this movement -- and my presidency -- have never just been about me.

I'm proud that we're choosing to run the kind of campaign where a dinner like this isn't just possible, it's a regular thing. And next time, I don't just want to meet you -- I want to meet someone else in your life.

Donate $3 or more, and start thinking about who you'll invite to dinner:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks for being part of this,

Barack

##

read more "Presidential Dining Deja Vu: Obama Announces Third "Dinner with Barack" Contest"

"Dinner with Barack" Winners Dish On Their Date With President Obama

From The Liberty Tavern: Details on the Presidential table talk, the menu, the very bad dessert decision, and the guest who named his child "Maxwell Barack"...
Update, Nov. 27: Campaign releases 5 new videos from the first "Dinner with Barack"
The four citizens who won Obama for America's first "Dinner with Barack" contest dined with President Obama last Thursday at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The gang, all donors to the President's 2012 re-election effort, have spent the ensuing days dishing to media outlets about their heady, rare date with the Eater in Chief. The President's culinary comrades were, from left in the above photo Ken Knight of Chandler, Ariz; Wendi Smith of Croyden, Ind; Casey Helbling of Minneapolis, Minn; and Juanita Martinez of Brighton, Colo. Each comes from a state that is crucial for the President's success in 2012.

All had to sign releases agreeing to be used in future Campaign promotions. Over the weekend, Campaign HQ put out the first "official" statements from the "lucky folks" ("wonderful!" "exciting!"). There was also a promise of "more from our Dinner with Barack winners in the coming weeks." But before the dishing, the menu.

The Liberty Tavern creates seasonal, regional American cuisine, and the casually dressed President Obama enjoyed the "Harpoon Caught Swordfish," which is regularly featured on the menu. It's served "Portuguese style," accompanied by white beans, sweet peppers, lamb sausage escarole, and Littleneck clam sauce ($22). He also had the Tavern Salad, which is field greens with breakfast radish and red wine vinaigrette ($6). No wine for the President: He washed down dinner with iced tea.

Executive Chef Liam LaCivita also created some Presidential treats that aren't on the menu: He kicked the dinner off with an Obama Foodie Homage, delivering a special appetizer of five mini Chicago-style Hot Dogs topped with the mandatory green relish. The President loves his Chicago Dogs: In July, he settled an NBA bet with a Univision reporter with a big box of the authentic goodies sent from Chicago to Miami headquarters. The Dogs were also featured at the annual White House Congressional Picnic in 2010.

Dinner winners decline dessert...
The foursome, astonishingly, declined the President's offer of dessert, apparently not realizing that this would extend their time with Mr. Obama. The rapid-fire dinner was just 70 minutes long, a quickie for a President who frequently has dinners outside the White House that last two to three hours. Mr. Obama arrived at the restaurant at 6:48 PM and was rolling homeward in his motorcade by 7:58 PM. Helbling, the Minneapolis winner, publicly bemoaned the bad decision on Twitter. (Above: Helbling and the President)

"The president offered us dessert at the end of the meal... None of us wanted it-what was I thinking! #DinnerWithBarack," Helbling tweeted.

"We got back in the van and all of us were kicking ourselves and probably will for the rest of our lives," Helbling later told US News & World Report. "We couldn't believe it; we had all turned down dessert with Barack Obama."

The dinner conversation...
Helbling, a tech entrepreneur who runs a company called Software for Good, is such a big Obama enthusiast that he named one of his children "Maxwell Barack," he said, and revealed that the dinner conversation focused on "critical veterans, education, and economic issues." In his statement for BarackObama.com, he said the dinner "really blows your mind when you think about it."

Perhaps that's because the President revealed some deep secrets about White House life?

"I learned Obama's not a real early riser; he gets up at seven and then goes to the gym before reporting to the office," Helbling told USNWR. "And, he is rarely awaken from sleep for emergencies. The last time he had to go to the situation room in the middle of the night was when the Japanese earthquake was going on."

"The most memorable part was when he talked about his day & at 630 going upstairs to have dinner w/Michelle and kids. I could relate," (sic) was another tweet from Helbling.

Helbling also tweeted about the dinner to his hometown chief, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, who not uncoincidentally, since Minnesota is a crucial electoral state, was last week one of the eight Mayors invited to attend First Lady Obama's food desert summit in Chicago.

"He was very thankful for your early support!" Helbling tweeted to Rybak, and also tweeted "tonight at #DinnerWithBarack President Obama mentioned how great of a guy you are!"

"Cool!" the Mayor tweeted back, and asked what the President ate.

Mr. Obama tossed his own tweet into the mix after the dinner.

"This dinner is important because I'm only president thanks to the work of millions of Americans like the four I just met. —BO," the President wrote on @BarackObama.

A big security detail...
Ken Knight, 48, of Chandler, Arizona, is a mail carrier with a route in Tempe, and it was his mother's $10 donation in his name that got him to the dinner, he told Arizona Central. Knight said he was worried that his "colorful past" might kill his chances of meeting the President. The dinner winners had to pass background checks, and Knight said he is a recovering alcoholic, almost five years sober, and "admits to past use of a few illegal substances that he feared would negatively influence the Campaign's decision about selecting him."

Nope: Knight, who bills himself as extremely liberal and a longtime Obama supporter, got in. The President and his guests ate in an upstairs dining room in the restaurant, and unlike at many other Presidential dinners, there were no other patrons present. There were, however, many members of the President's security detail.

"There were dozens of Secret Service, but they made it really calm and casual for us. It wasn't as crazy as you might think. It was a lot of fun," Knight told Arizona's KTAR radio.

Still, Knight was dubious when he first got the call from Campaign officials saying that he'd won, which occurred in July.

"They said they needed to run a background check and asked for my Social Security number and birth date," Knight said. "I thought it was a scam. They spent the next 10 minutes trying to convince me of who they where." He finally set his suspicions aside and gave them his information.

The Dinner Winners' statements put out by Campaign HQ...
There was no "official statement" released from Knight, but the three other winners were quoted as follows on BarackObama.com, which titled the blogpost "This Is The President Of The United States Sitting Next to Me." (Above: The surprisingly low res photo tweeted by Campaign HQ)

Juanita Martinez, who is a retired teacher: "It was wonderful, delicious, exciting. I don’t have the words. I had the swordfish, and they had the best dinner rolls. The President was so eager to meet us. He asked about our states and our families. Every now and then I had to take a moment and think, ‘This is the President of the United States sitting next to me.’"

Wendi Smith, who is a retired professor and artist: "It was wonderful. There was all this anticipation, and the whole day was spent in preparation for our dinner, so all of us were anxious and excited and our heart rates were way up there. But he came in and was just so wonderful at making us feel relaxed and calming us down. In the first few minutes we all went 'Oh, okay, we can do this.' He introduced himself to all of us and really listened to what we had to say. He made sure each one of us got to say something. He was very humble and modest and just exactly the guy I thought he was."

Casey Helbling: "He was a little shorter than I was expecting—I was expecting him to be really really tall for some reason. He was really charming and easy to talk to. And it was like we were just having a normal dinner, just a couple people sitting around a table having a meal talking about the issues. We were joking that it would have been a totally different vibe if we had just gone to the White House and met him in his office. We were completely wide open on questions—we could ask whatever we wanted. It was cool and down to earth, but he’s still the President—so it really blows your mind when you think about it."

The dinner fulfilled the first of two dinner contests held to drop cash into the President's 2012 war chest, and Thursday was the first time the names of the winners were revealed. Though the contest's Official Rules stated that their names would be posted online in July, it never happened; the Campaign ignored its own rules. The dinner was supposed to be "Dinner with Barack and Joe," and include Vice President Joe Biden, but on Thursday he was leading a Presidential Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a condolence trip that was scheduled after the Crown Prince died. The Campaign promised that Biden would telephone the four winners.

The date of the second dinner has yet to be announced.

An AP video, shot during the less than 50 seconds the President's press pool was allowed in to observe the proceedings, before any food or drink was served:



The prize was worth $1,075...
In addition to the dinner, the winners received a round-trip coach-class airfare and one night's hotel stay as part of the prize. The Campaign pegged the "approximate retail value" of the package at $1,075, with the meal priced at $100, airfare at $700, and the hotel stay at $275. This is taxable income for the winners under IRS rules.

*Top photo by Getty-pool; second by Photo by Obama for America; Helbling photo by AP

read more ""Dinner with Barack" Winners Dish On Their Date With President Obama"

Obama Dines With "Dinner with Barack" Contest Winners At The Liberty Tavern In Virginia

President's four dinner companions came from states crucial to 2012 election...
Update, Nov. 27: Campaign releases 5 new videos from the first "Dinner with Barack"
Update, Oct. 31: The menu & the winners dish on their group date with the President
On Thursday evening, President Obama spent about 70 minutes at The Liberty Tavern in the Clarendon neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia, with the four lucky winners of the "Dinner with Barack" contest, who flew in from around the US to claim their prizes. They arrived by motorcade at the Halloween-decorated restaurant at 6:48 PM for the outing that fulfilled the first of two Campaign contests in which the President raffled himself off as a dinner date to raise funds for his 2012 war chest. (Above: The President with the winners, from L Knight, Smith, Helbling, and Martinez)

"This dinner is important because I'm only president thanks to the work of millions of Americans like the four I just met. —BO," the President tweeted on the @BarackObama account after the dinner.

The dinner was for the contest that ran during the second fundraising quarter, April-June, and helped boost donations from more than 475,000 supporters and raise $33.2 million for the period. Each guest came from a state crucial to the 2012 re-election, and each represented an issue the President has been focusing on in recent months: Juanita Martinez is a retired teacher from Brighton, Colorado; Casey Helbling is an entrepreneur and small-business owner from Minneapolis; Ken Knight is a U.S. postal worker from Chandler, Arizona; and Wendi Smith is a retired professor and artist from Corydon, Indiana. Arizona is the only state the President lost in 2008.

Clad casually in khaki slacks and a light blue shirt, his sleeves rolled back, Mr. Obama and his four companions sat around a dark wood table in the upstairs room of the Tavern, which serves seasonal, American regional cuisine with a focus on artisanal, in-house creations. Entree prices range from $19-$25. The President's press pool was ushered in for a photo op before any food or beverages were served. No other "regular" patrons were in the room, but there was plenty of staff on hand.

Knight, the federal employee, was overheard telling the President about himself, and mentioning Michael Jordan, a reference at which the President smiled. Smith, the professor, was heard telling the President that her hometown is in southern Indiana, and was the first capital of the state, which seemed to surprise Mr. Obama. There was also chit-chat about the Chicago White Sox, Mr. Obama's favorite baseball team.

"#DinnerwithBarack just became Dinner with Barack, Ken, Casey, Wendi, and Juanita: pic.twitter.com/rZKfj2Gi," @BarackObama tweeted; the photo was grainy, and followed by another equally low-res image, "just for good measure," according to the second tweet.

The President has never previously dined at the eatery, but the First Lady may have managed to sneak in for an "incognito" meal at some point. In order to attend the dinner, each guest had to undergo a background check, and sign documents agreeing that their image, etc., could be used by the Campaign in future promotional materials. Today was the first time the names of the winners were revealed, though the contest's Official Rules stated that their names would be posted online in July; the Campaign ignored its own rules.

The President's motorcade arrived at approximately 6:48 PM. By 7:58 PM, the group was departing in the motorcade, which arrived back at the White House at 8:04 PM. (Above: A blurry post-dinner photo tweeted by @BarackObama shows wine and ice tea on the table; the press had already been dismissed)

An AP video, shot during the 50 seconds the President's press pool was allowed in to observe the proceedings:



The prize was worth $1,075...
In addition to the dinner, the winners received a round-trip coach-class airfare and one night's hotel stay as part of the prize. The Campaign pegged the "approximate retail value" of the package at $1,075, with the meal priced at $100, airfare at $700, and the hotel stay at $275. This is taxable income for the winners under IRS rules.

Vice President didn't attend, but will telephone the winners...
Vice President Joe Biden was supposed to attend the dinner; midway through the fundraising quarter, the contest was changed to "Dinner with Barack and Joe" to entice more donors, a change the President himself announced in a video. But Biden on Thursday was leading a 7-member Presidential Delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a condolence trip that was scheduled after the Crown Prince died last week in New York. The Campaign promised he would telephone the four winners.

The President will dine at a later date with four more donors from the Campaign's second gustatory contest, the "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes, held during fundraising quarter 3, July-September. In an interview in September, Campaign Deputy Press Secretary Katie Hogan told Obama Foodorama that there was no way to determine how many donors actually gave money in order to be entered in the dinner contests; she said that donations for the dinner contests were not specifically tracked. Entering the contests without donating was possible, too.

Thursday's dinner took place a day after President Obama returned from a three-day fundraising swing through Las Vegas, Nevada; San Francisco and Los Angeles, California; and the snowy Denver, Colorado. He headlined six fundraisers, including one at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, and one at the Hollywood home of actors Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas. The trip also included an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and a stop at Roscoe's House of Chicken n' Waffles in Los Angeles.

The dinner donations...
There was a big push for donations for both dinners, but especially for the third quarter fundraiser, with plenty of e-mail requests from Campaign staffers, as well as multiple e-mails from the President and two from First Lady Michelle Obama, who suggested that winners "relax" and enjoy themselves with "Barack."

"Not everyone knows how to prepare for a dinner like this," Mrs. Obama wrote. "I want to tell you the one thing to do if you're selected to join him...Just relax. Barack wants this dinner to be fun, and he really loves getting to know supporters like you."

On Sept. 30, the deadline for the third quarter, OFA created a new video to woo donations, down to $3 as the baseline ask. The video was shot during President Obama's luncheon with Campaign volunteers at Ted's Bulletin restaurant in Washington, DC on August 10th. It was the last time he dined with winners of a campaign contest:



More on The Liberty Tavern...
The Executive Chef is Liam LaCivita; "the culinary team is committed to in-house production, including handcrafted breads, pastas, sausages, ice creams, and desserts," notes the website. "High-quality ingredients are diligently sourced, including Hereford beef, Duroc pork, and award-winning American artisan cheeses." Prices for entrees range between $19-$25, with appetizers going for $11-$16. The wine and beer selection is large.

"The @LibertyTavernVA was honored to host President Barack Obama for dinner this evening!" the restaurant tweeted after the President departed.

Information: The Liberty Tavern is located at 3195 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201. Phone: (703) 465-9360.

read more "Obama Dines With "Dinner with Barack" Contest Winners At The Liberty Tavern In Virginia"

President Tweets About Dinner Contest

President Obama sent out the tweet, above, after dining on Thursday evening at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, Virginia, with the four winners of the "Dinner with Barack" 2012 campaign fundraiser.

read more "President Tweets About Dinner Contest"

Obama's First Dinner Contest E-Mail Of The Day: "I Like These Dinners"

Based on President Obama's first e-mail of the day about the Dinner with Barack contest (there were two e-mails by 10:00 AM), it sounds like he and I used to dine together regularly, but since he's become all busy being Commander in Chief and saving the economy and I've been working an extra night job to support my underemployed partner, we've drifted apart. The first e-mail had the subject line "I like these dinners," and the President--er, Barack, because we're on a first-name basis in e-mail--opened with:

"Because you and I don't have a lot of chances to have dinner together, I hope you'll take advantage of the one that's coming up this fall."

Well, how can anyone resist such a prettily worded dinner invite?! I've been missing our dinners together, too! Barack asked for $3 to ensure we get the chance to continue our culinary adventures.

For a campaign that is relying on e-mail to woo donors, whomever is actually writing President Obama's missives is making some *interesting* choices for phrases. The e-mails are just plain goofy. Or "creepy" and "semi-stalkerish" according to Business Insider. Or filled with "borderline booty-call language," according to The New Republic.

I've never actually had dinner with President Obama, but First Lady Obama assured me in an e-mail sent on Wednesday that the President wants to have fun. She advised me to "just relax." In Barack's second e-mail today, the dinner invite was the PS to a request for a $10 donation. There's also a new video about the dinner.

What I'd really like from the Obama Campaign is an e-mail announcing the names of the winners of this summer's "Dinner with Barack and Joe" contest. Still wondering who those four mystery Americans are.

UPDATE: Late in the afternoon Twitter users started joking about e-mail subject lines, using the hashtag #ObamaCampaignEmailSubjectLines.

@EzraKlein had the best tweet: "I THE PRESDENT OF THE UNITED STATE HAVE AN URGENT BUSINESS PROPOSAL FOR TRUSTED FRIEND"

@Adambonin tweeted: "How Many More Terrorists Do I Have To Kill For You To Like Me Again?"

The text of e-mail #1, "I like these dinners":

XXXX --

Because you and I don't have a lot of chances to have dinner together, I hope you'll take advantage of the one that's coming up this fall.

So if you've been sitting on this, now's the time to toss your name in the hat:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

I like these dinners not just because I get to hear from supporters like you, but because they're part of what makes our organization different.

Other campaigns save seats at the table for special-interest PACs and Washington lobbyists -- and you can see the effects in the decisions they make and the priorities they set.

Our campaign rejects all contributions from Washington lobbyists, and we refuse all money from corporate PACs. That means we're accountable only to the people, not special interests.

Instead, we're relying on millions of people like you giving just $3 or whatever you can pitch in.

Hope to see you soon:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks,

Barack

##

The text of e-mail #2, "Stronger For it":

Friend --

We're building something different here.

Ours is the only major presidential campaign that outright rejects contributions from Washington lobbyists and refuses money from special-interest PACs.

No matter what the deadline, no matter what the pressures or distractions, we're always going to do this the right way: one person and one grassroots donation at a time.

It's the hard way to do it, but we're stronger for it in the end.

So please donate $10 or more before midnight tonight:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Friday-Deadline

Thank you,

Barack

P.S. -- If you make a donation of any amount before midnight, you'll be automatically entered for a chance to join me for dinner with three other supporters.

##

read more "Obama's First Dinner Contest E-Mail Of The Day: "I Like These Dinners""

#DinnerWithBarack Tweet Du Jour...

As the contest rockets to its midnight deadline, President Obama sent two e-mails to supporters--"I like these dinners"--and OFA posted a new dinner video. The President and First Lady Obama will both attend fundraisers today. Mrs. Obama is in Maine and Rhode Island; the President will be in Washington.

read more "#DinnerWithBarack Tweet Du Jour..."

The New "Dinner With Barack" Video

The deadline for entries in the "Dinner with Barack" contest is 11:59 PM ET tonight, and OFA created a new video to woo donations--now down to $3 as the baseline ask. The video was shot during President Obama's luncheon with Campaign volunteers at Ted's Bulletin restaurant in Washington, DC on August 10th, not at the actual dinner with the four supporters who won the first dinner contest sweepstakes, "Dinner with Barack and Joe." OFA still hasn't publicly released their names.

read more "The New "Dinner With Barack" Video"

#DinnerWithBarack Tweet Du Jour...And The Winner Selection Process...

Donating does not increase the odds of winning dinner with the President...
The selection process for Dinner With Barack is rawther complicated, according to the Official Rules. There's a background and security check, an affidavit and media release that must be signed, and applicable taxes for the prize, which has an assigned retail value of $1,150. It's not just four names drawn out of a hat: 50 "potential winners" will be selected in a random drawing at Obama for America Headquarters on October 7. But then "Sponsor" will "select four winners from the list of eligible potential winners" based on "an appropriate range of views, backgrounds, and interests among the winners selected." Winners will be notified by Oct. 14.

Or maybe they won't be: The names of the winners for the first sweepstakes, "Dinner with Barack and Joe," have not been released as of today, Sept. 29. The rules for that sweepstakes required these to be publicly posted on http://my.barackobama.com/dinnewinners but the link takes users to a page that says "Sorry, the page you're looking for isn't here." The query box on the page redirects to a volunteer sign up/donation page.

Donating does not increase the odds of dining with the President, according to the Official Rules.

The Presidential dinner rules:

OBAMA FOR AMERICA "DINNER with BARACK II" SWEEPSTAKES OFFICIAL RULES

Important: Please read these Official Rules before entering this online promotion (the "Promotion").
By participating in the Promotion, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements below.

NO PURCHASE, PAYMENT, OR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS PROMOTION.
1. Eligibility. PURCHASE, PAYMENT OR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION WILL NOT INCREASE ODDS OF WINNING. PROMOTION VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. PROMOTION OPEN ONLY TO INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES CITIZENS AND LAWFUL PERMANENT U.S. RESIDENTS WHO ARE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE FIFTY (50) UNITED STATES AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO, AND OVER THE AGE OF 18 (OR THE AGE OF MAJORITY UNDER APPLICABLE LAW). BUSINESSES, CORPORATIONS, REGISTERED FEDERAL LOBBYISTS, REGISTERED FOREIGN AGENTS, FEDERAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES, NATIONAL BANKS, FEDERAL CONTRACTORS, LABOR ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER ENTITIES ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO ENTER OR WIN A PRIZE, NOR MAY ANY INDIVIDUAL ENTER ON BEHALF OF ANY SUCH ENTITIES. IF YOU DO NOT MEET ANY OF THESE REQUIREMENTS, OR ANY OTHER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN THESE OFFICIAL RULES, YOU ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO WIN A PRIZE, AND OBAMA FOR AMERICA ("SPONSOR") RESERVES THE RIGHT NOT TO AWARD PRIZES TO YOU. To be eligible to win the prize, entries must be completed and received by Sponsor in the format designated below. Directors, officers and employees of Sponsor and any of their respective parent companies, affiliate companies, subsidiaries, agents, professional advisors, advertising and promotional agencies, and immediate families of each are not eligible to win any prizes. All applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

2. Disclaimer. Sponsor, and its related committees, affiliates, directors, offices, consultants, professional advisors, employees and agencies (collectively, the "Released Parties") will not be responsible for: (a) any late, lost, misrouted, garbled or distorted or damaged transmissions or entries; (b) telephone, electronic, hardware, software, network, Internet, or other computer- or communications-related malfunctions or failures; (c) any Promotion disruptions, injuries, losses or damages caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor or by non-authorized human intervention; or (d) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Promotion.

3. Promotion Period. The Promotion starts at 12:00 a.m. (all times Eastern Time) on August 15, 2011 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sep 30, 2011 (the "Promotion Period"). All entries must be received during the Promotion Period to be eligible to win a prize.

4. Prizes. Four (4) winners will each receive the following prize package (the "Trip"):

• One round-trip coach-class airplane ticket from the major airport closest to the winner's address within the continental United States to a destination within the continental United States to be determined at the sole discretion of the Sponsor ("Destination"), including ground transportation to and from the airport at the Destination. (approximate retail value $800.00)
• One night's stay for winner at a hotel at the Destination on a date to be determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion in a single-occupancy room or room of equivalent value (approximate retail value $150.00);
• Dinner with President Barack Obama at the Destination, on a date to be determined by the Sponsor in its sole discretion (approximate retail value $200.00);

Approximate retail value of the entire Trip package: $1,050.00.

Sponsor will choose, in its sole discretion, the airline, hotel, flight dates, flight times, departure city and airport and other Trip logistics and details. Dates of travel are subject to availability. If winner's address is within 100 miles of the Destination, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, provide ground transportation to the Trip hotel or event in lieu of an airplane ticket. Except as expressly set forth in the description of the Trip above, each winner is responsible for his/her ground transportation to and from the airports and hotel, all meals and all other expenses that such winner incurs in connection with the Trip. Sponsor will also determine, in its sole discretion, the date, location, attendees, and all other relevant details of the Dinner.

5. Odds; Taxes; Etc. Odds of winning a prize depend on the number and quality of eligible entries received. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZE ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF WINNER. All prizes will be awarded. The prize may be forfeited and awarded to an alternative winner if the winner affidavit and release materials (see Sections 11 and 12 below) are not returned within three (3) days after being sent to winner or if two (2) attempts to contact winner by phone and/or e-mail are not successful. Prizes are not transferable. No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) of any prizes will be permitted, except that Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize. Limit one prize per household or address. All prizes are awarded "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose).

6. Identity of Entrant. In the event of a dispute about the identity of the entrant, entries made online will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. An authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization (e.g., business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address. The potential winner may be required to provide Sponsor with proof that the potential winner is the authorized account holder of the e-mail address associated with the winning entry.

7. How to Enter. Participants may enter as follows:

• (a) Free Online Entry Method: To enter via the free online entry method, visit http://my.barackobama.com/dinner-with-barack-2-alt or other web page specificly identified by Sponsor and complete and submit an online entry form during the Promotion Period.
• (b) Contribution Method: We are asking for a donation of up to $2,500 from individuals per election to Obama for America. We are not asking for, and will not accept in connection with this solicitation, donations in any amount from registered federal lobbyists, registered foreign agents, federal political action committees, or minors under the age of 16. Contributions in any amount from corporations, labor organizations, national banks, federal contractors, and foreign nationals are prohibited. To enter by contributing money to Sponsor, complete and submit the contribution form at http://www.dinnerwithbarack.com during the Promotion Period. No minimum contribution is necessary to enter. Entering via the contribution method will not increase your chances of winning the prize.

For All Entry Methods: Failure to submit all required information in the manner required in these Official Rules and/or any entry or contribution form may result in disqualification. Proof of contribution or online entry will not be deemed to be proof of receipt of entry by Sponsor. All entrants and entries are subject to verification by Sponsor. Entries will not be acknowledged or returned. By entering the Promotion, you consent to being placed on an e-mail mailing list to receive information from Sponsor and for other purposes in accordance with Sponsor's Privacy Policy. Individuals may not enter the Promotion by any and all methods combined more than ten (10) times in any calendar day.

8. Promotion Rules. Fifty (50) potential winners will be selected by a random drawing from all eligible entries to be held at Obama for America Headquarters on October 7, 2011. Sponsor may, at its option, conduct a background check on each potential winner. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any potential winner from receiving any prize based on such background check if Sponsor determines, in its sole discretion that awarding any prize to such potential winner could result in a safety or security risk to any person or persons or could result in the disruption of any event associated with the Promotion. Sponsor will, in its sole discretion, then select four (4) winners from the list of eligible potential winners on the basis of criteria determined and applied by Sponsor to provide for an appropriate range of views, backgrounds, and interests among the winners selected. Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail by October 14, 2011. To claim the prize, each winner should follow the instructions and comply with the conditions contained in his/her notification.

9. General Release. By entering the Promotion, you release Sponsor and all Released Parties from any liability whatsoever, and waive any and all causes of action, related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the Promotion or delivery, misdelivery, acceptance, possession, use of or inability to use any prize (including, without limitation, claims, costs, injuries, losses and damages related to personal injuries, death, damage to or destruction of property, rights of publicity or privacy, defamation or portrayal in a false light, whether intentional or unintentional), whether under a theory of contract, tort (including negligence), warranty or other theory.

10. Use of Winner Name, Likeness, etc. Except where prohibited by law, entry into the Promotion constitutes permission to use each winner's name, hometown, likeness and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation. As a condition of being awarded any prize, except where prohibited by law, each winner may be required to execute a consent to the use of his or her name, hometown, likeness and/or prize information, without limitation, for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation.

11. Affidavit & Release; Background Security Check. As a condition of being awarded any prize, each winner may be required to execute and deliver to Sponsor a signed affidavit of eligibility and acceptance of these Official Rules and release of liability, and any other legal, regulatory, or tax-related documents required by Sponsor in its sole discretion.

12. Winner List; Rules Request. For a copy of the winner list, send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope after September 30, 2011 and before September 30, 2012 to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn:"Dinner with Barack II" Winner List. To obtain a copy of these Official Rules, visit http://my.barackobama.com/dinner-with-barack-2-rules or send a stamped, self-addressed business-size envelope to Sponsor at the address listed below, Attn: "Dinner with Barack II" Rules Request. Residents of VT may omit return postage.

13. Intellectual Property Notice. The Promotion and all accompanying materials are copyright ®2011 by Obama for America. All rights reserved.

14. Miscellaneous. The Promotion and these Official Rules will be governed, construed and interpreted under the laws of Illinois, U.S.A. without regard to its or any other jurisdiction's choice of law provisions. Entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and by the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding in all respects. Any provision of these Official Rules deemed unenforceable will be enforced to the extent permissible, and the remainder of these Official Rules will remain in effect. Sponsor reserves the right to change these Official Rules at any time, in its sole discretion, and to suspend or cancel the Promotion or any entrant's participation in the Promotion should viruses, bugs, unauthorized human intervention or other causes beyond Sponsor's control affect the administration, security or proper play of the Promotion, or Sponsor otherwise becomes (as determined in its sole discretion) incapable of running the Promotion as planned. Entrants who violate these Official Rules, violate any law, rule or regulation in connection with participation in the Promotion, tamper with the operation of the Promotion or engage in any conduct that is detrimental or unfair to Sponsor, the Promotion or any other entrant (in each case as determined in Sponsor's sole discretion) are subject to disqualification from entry into the Promotion. Sponsor reserves the right to lock out persons whose eligibility is in question or who have been disqualified or are otherwise ineligible to enter the Promotion. If you have any questions about these Official Rules or the Promotion, please e-mail them to dinnerwithbarack@barackobama.com or send written questions to the address listed below, Attn: "Dinner with Barack II" Questions.

15. Sponsor: Obama for America, 130 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60601.

read more "#DinnerWithBarack Tweet Du Jour...And The Winner Selection Process..."

Michelle Obama Sends Two "Dinner With Barack" E-Mails: The President Wants "Fun"

In her first missives about OFA's dinner contest with her husband, First Lady has some advice for winners: "Just relax"...asks for $3 and $10 donations...
First Lady Michelle Obama sent her very first e-mails about the Dinner with Barack II contest today, writing that the President wants the dinners to be "fun," and signing her e-mails "Michelle." There were two versions: One had the subject line "Take him up on it," and asked supporters for $10. The other, with the subject line "These dinners," asked for just $3, a low-ball figure the campaign trotted out on Tuesday with an e-mail from President Obama himself. Both e-mails are part of a big push to get donations in before Friday's midnight FEC reporting deadline.

"Not everyone knows how to prepare for a dinner like this," Michelle wrote. "I want to tell you the one thing to do if you're selected to join him...Just relax. Barack wants this dinner to be fun, and he really loves getting to know supporters like you."

"Don't miss the opportunity to be there. Donate $3 today, before the September 30th deadline," Mrs. Obama adds.

"Contributing will not improve chances of winning," notes the OFA website about the dinner.

OFA still has not announced the winners for the first contest offering the President as a dinner date, "Dinner with Barack and Joe," months after entries closed in July. A Campaign spokesman couldn't explain why, but it violates OFA's own Official Rules for the contest.

"Since we launched our "Dinner with Barack" contest...we've been getting asked a lot: 'Is this for real?"' wrote National Finance Director Rufus Gifford in an e-mail sent waaaaay back in June.

The Campaign is still getting asked that question. Mrs. Obama will attend three fundraisers on Friday, in Portland, Maine and Providence, Rhode Island.

Michelle's $10 e-mail: "Take him up on it"

Friend --

Not everyone knows how to prepare for a dinner like this. As someone who's eaten countless meals with my husband, I want to tell you the one thing to do if you're selected to join him...

Just relax. Barack wants this dinner to be fun, and he really loves getting to know supporters like you.

I hope you'll take him up on it before Friday's deadline.

Will you donate $10 or more today and be entered to have dinner with Barack?

These dinners mean a lot to Barack. They're a chance for him to talk with a few of the people who are driving the campaign -- and a chance for him to say thank you.

So come prepared to tell your story, and say whatever's on your mind.

Don't miss the opportunity to be there. Donate $10 today, before the September 30th deadline:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks,

Michelle

Michelle's $3 e-mail: "These dinners"

Friend --

Not everyone knows how to prepare for a dinner like this. As someone who's eaten countless meals with my husband, I want to tell you the one thing to do if you're selected to join him...

Just relax. Barack wants this dinner to be fun, and he really loves getting to know supporters like you.

I hope you'll take him up on it before Friday's deadline.

Will you donate just $3 today and be entered to have dinner with Barack?

These dinners mean a lot to Barack. They're a chance for him to talk with a few of the people who are driving the campaign -- and a chance for him to say thank you.

So come prepared to tell your story, and say whatever's on your mind.

Don't miss the opportunity to be there. Donate $3 or more today, before the September 30th deadline:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Thanks,

Michelle

##

*Photo by Saul Loeb/Getty, taken at Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 34th Annual Awards Gala at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, DC.

read more "Michelle Obama Sends Two "Dinner With Barack" E-Mails: The President Wants "Fun""

@BarackObama's Dinner Contest Tweet Du Jour

The push is on for Friday's FEC filing deadline...

read more "@BarackObama's Dinner Contest Tweet Du Jour"

Obama's Fundraising E-Mail: Even If I Don't Phone You, Maybe We Can Do Dinner...

President asks for $3 donation with enticement of dinner and phone calls; Campaign still hasn't released names of first dinner contest winners...
In a fundraising e-mail he sent today to supporters, President Obama sounds a bit like a pal who is plenty of fun but who routinely ditches out on social formalities; he promises that he might call or he might have dinner with some lucky donors.  The President's e-mail, like all of those sent from campaign HQ, was signed "Barack," and he refers to the Dinner with Barack II sweepstakes, a campaign fundraiser that's offering four people the chance to dine with the Eater in Chief.

"I'll be calling some grassroots donors like you by phone this week, so I can say thank you," Barack wrote. "And if I don't call you, there's a chance I'll see you at dinner with three other supporters sometime soon."

The President's ask is just $3, in an effort to re-engage the legions of small-dollar donors who were crucial to loading campaign coffers in 2008. Obama for America is scrambling to get a million donations by Sept. 30, the deadline for third quarter finance reporting. All donors are now automatically entered in the "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes, and today's e-mail comes as the President ends a three-day western fundraising swing, which included a celeb-laden dinner for $17,900/plate in West Hollywood on Monday.  Popstar Lady Gaga dropped $35,800 for a Presidential dinner on Sunday.

The "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes is the second time the Campaign has raffled off the President as a dining companion, and it is being aggressively promoted by e-mail, on Facebook and Twitter, with the hashtag #DinnerWithBarack. Dinner with supporters will be "a regular thing," President Obama promised in a Sept. 14 e-mail.  Despite such promises, the Campaign still hasn't announced the names of the four winners for the first dinner, July's "Dinner with Barack and Joe" sweepstakes.  In early September, OFA Deputy Press Secretary Katie Hogan told Obama Foodorama that she has no idea why the names of the dinner winners have not been announced.

"We don't have a date or location for either dinner," Hogan also told Obama Foodorama.

The text of today's e-mail from Barack:

Friend --

I enjoy talking about fundraising deadlines as much as I imagine you enjoy hearing about them.

But this Friday's deadline is important.

It's a chance for us to prove how we're different from any campaign in politics: We rely on ordinary Americans giving what they can -- one grassroots donation at a time.

This is not just a campaign. It's a chance for each of us as citizens to organize and change the course of history.

And before we close the books this Friday at midnight, I hope you'll become a part of it.

Please donate $3 or more today.

I'll be calling some grassroots donors like you by phone this week, so I can say thank you.

And if I don't call you, there's a chance I'll see you at dinner with three other supporters sometime soon.

Even if I don't get to thank you personally, every single donation counts:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Friday-Deadline

Thanks for doing your part,

Barack

##
The value of the dinner prize ...
The prize packages for both dinners includes a round-trip coach-class air fare and one night's hotel stay at "the Destination" of the dinner for each winner. For Dinner I, the total cash value is $1075, with the "approximate retail value" of dinner with the President pegged at $100, airfare at $700, and the hotel stay at $275. Dinner II is pricier, at $1,150. As noted above, the "approximate retail value" for dinner with the President has doubled in value, from $100 to $200. The air fare has also gone up to $800, while the hotel stay is worth less, and valued at $150.

No donation to the campaign is required to be entered in the dinner sweepstakes, according to the Official Rules.

*The Campaign on Monday sent an e-mail targeting supporters who haven't donated.

read more "Obama's Fundraising E-Mail: Even If I Don't Phone You, Maybe We Can Do Dinner..."

Four Days Left To Enter Obama Dinner Contest

UPDATE, Oct. 27: CLICK TO READ: President dines with contest winners
Entries for the Dinner With Barack II sweepstakes were promoted on @BarackObama's Twitter today; the contest closes on Sept. 30. Meantime, Campaign HQ still hasn't released the names for the first Obama dinner contest, July's "Dinner with Barack and Joe." The dinner winners were supposed to be announced at http://my.barackobama.com/dinnerwinners, but the link now takes users to a page that says "Sorry, the page you're looking for isn't here," which includes other helpful links and re-directs users to the Campaign blog. The link previously took users to a donation page for the second dinner sweepstakes.

In early September, OFA Deputy Press Secretary Katie Hogan told Obama Foodorama that she has no idea why the names have not been announced.

"We don't have a date or location for either dinner," Hogan also told Obama Foodorama.

read more "Four Days Left To Enter Obama Dinner Contest"

A Second Dinner E-Mail From President Obama...

"Can we meet for dinner?" President asks in e-mail describing breakfast and lunch with supporters...
After a morning e-mail inviting citizens to donate to his campaign to be entered in the "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes, President Obama sent a second e-mail on the same subject this afternoon. It coincided with a big push for the event on the @BarackObama Twitter account. The subject line of the e-mail was "Friend, can we meet for dinner?"* As examples of his gustatory engagement with supporters, the President points to a recent lunch he had in Washington with campaign volunteers, and a lunch with small business owners in Iowa. (Above: An official WH photo of the President and his guests at lunch at Rausch’s Cafe in Guttenberg)

"Whenever I can, I want to take the opportunity to meet you," Barack wrote. "Last month, that meant I got to talk to folks in Iowa about small-business opportunities, and sit down with a group of volunteers from around the country who helped build this campaign in their communities this summer."

The President signed both e-mails "Barack." A photo of the Washington lunch with volunteers is being used as the logo for the "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes.

A new tradition?
But while the President's first dinner e-mail promised that dinners with him are "a new tradition," and will be "a regular thing," in the second e-mail, Mr. Obama sounds a bit less certain that this might be the case.

"My hope is that I'll be able to keep doing these dinners throughout the campaign," Barack wrote.

The second e-mail also focuses on the fact that no potential GOP presidential candidate--so far--is raffling themselves off to raise campaign funds.

"These dinners also set our campaign apart," Barack wrote. "No matter what our opponents do over the next 14 months, dinners like these are how we will continue to put people at the heart of this campaign."

Both e-mails ask for a campaign donation, of course, and both end with the same line:

"Maybe I'll get to thank you in person."

No donation is needed to enter the sweepstakes.

As noted in previous posts on the topic of Campaign dinners with the President, so far, there's only been one other Presidential dinner announced by Obama for America, the "Dinner with Barack and Joe," which includes Vice President Joe Biden. And the winners of that sweepstakes, as noted in this post and in this post, have still not been announced, which is a violation of the Official Rules for the contest created by the Campaign itself. (Above: The logo for the "Dinner with Barack II" sweepstakes)

Both dinners with the President include airfare and and one night's stay at a hotel for winners. Campaign staff have given the "Dinner with Barack and Joe" package an "approximate retail value" of $1075, while Dinner II is pricier, at $1,150.

The text of Barack's second dinner e-mail:

Friend,

Supporters like you are the reason I'm here, and the values we share have always made our organization more than just a political campaign.

So whenever I can, I want to take the opportunity to meet you. Last month, that meant I got to talk to folks in Iowa about small-business opportunities, and sit down with a group of volunteers from around the country who helped build this campaign in their communities this summer.

Today, I want to ask if you'll join me and three other supporters for a meal and conversation sometime soon.

Please donate $5 or more to be automatically entered for a chance to join me for dinner.

If this sounds a bit familiar to you, it's because we've done this before. In fact, my hope is that I'll be able to keep doing these dinners throughout the campaign.

They're a chance for me to talk one on one with people like you who are taking ownership of this campaign and connect with the work going on every day in neighborhoods across the country.

These dinners also set our campaign apart. No matter what our opponents do over the next 14 months, dinners like these are how we will continue to put people at the heart of this campaign -- and prove that we don't need checks from Washington lobbyists or special-interest PAC money to win an election. We can do it person to person, in our neighborhoods and backyards, and over the dinner table.

That's why I'm asking for your donation today. I hope you'll take a minute to help build this campaign. When you do, you'll have a chance to join me for dinner:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Dinner

Maybe I'll get to thank you in person.

Barack

##

*Actually, here at Obama Foodorama, the subject heading was "Obama, can we meet for dinner?" because that's the name entered on our OFA account. It always gives the interns a giggle when the auto-generated "personal" e-mails show up addressed to "Obama."

*Photo by Pete Souza/White House, taken on Aug. 16, 2011

read more "A Second Dinner E-Mail From President Obama..."