Final Push For "Dinner with Barack and Michelle"

President Obama, staff send e-mails & tweets as contest & finance quarter end at midnight...
UPDATE, Jan. 6, 2012: Second "Dinner with Barack" contest turns into lunch
The final push for 2011 Campaign donations was on Saturday, with tweets and e-mails from President Obama and OFA staff as the midnight deadline loomed for the fund raising quarter in general and the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest in particular.

On vacation in Hawaii, the President sent a brief e-mail to supporters: "About the deadline tonight: It matters," he wrote. $3 got auto-entry into the dinner contest, the third time the President has raffled himself off as a dinner date. Deputy Campaign Manager Julianna Smoot also sent an e-mail about the dinner for eight.

"If you're interested in potentially sitting across from the President and First Lady for a meal sometime soon, this is your very last chance to throw your name in the hat," Smoot wrote.

The Campaign introduced a way to donate directly off cell phones on Saturday, and National Finance Director Rufus Gifford also sent an e-mail, with the subject headline "I know, I know, I know," since OFA is aware they are in overkill mode.

"Trust me: Nobody here wants to be a bother. But we're counting on everyone..." he wrote.

The First Lady e-mailed supporters on Friday. Former Obama aide Reggie Love is the latest from the President's inner circle to promote the dinner.

The President dined with the four winners of the first dinner contest in October at The Liberty Tavern, but has yet to dine with the four winners of the second contest. OFA recently released a new video of the Eater in Chief talking about the first dinner, which followed five previously released videos. Entries don't require a donation, and the assigned retail value of the dinner, $1,600, which includes airfare and a one-night hotel stay, is taxable to the winners.

The President's e-mail had the subject line "Hey."

The text:

XXXX --

About the deadline tonight: It matters.

If you can, please give $3 or more today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/Midnight

To 2012,

Barack
###

Smoot's e-mail had the subject line "Enter by midnight tonight."

The text:

XXXX --

Today, the last day before 2012, we want to make sure you take the chance to be part of something special.

Before midnight tonight, donate $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered to have dinner with the President and First Lady sometime soon.

And, don't forget -- if you're one of the winners, you'll get to bring a guest along with you.

So, if you're interested in potentially sitting across from the President and First Lady for a meal sometime soon, this is your very last chance to throw your name in the hat.

Donate $3 to be automatically entered to have dinner with Barack and Michelle:

https://donate.barackobama.com/By-Midnight

Good luck, and happy new year.

-Julianna

Julianna Smoot
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America
###