"Janet from Accokeek, Maryland" Will Dine With President Obama At "Dinner with Barack IV"

3 seats left for dinner contest; drawing is March 3rd...
Winners are being selected in stages for Dinner with Barack IV, the campaign fundraiser that has President Obama raffling himself off as a dinner date for four lucky winners. The selection process, new for the the fourth dinner contest from the Campaign, is designed to inspire repeat small donations. "Janet from Accokeek, Maryland" won the first seat at the President's table after she dropped $25 into his war chest, according to an e-mail from Deputy Campaign Manager Julianna Smoot. (Above: The President's new campaign headshot, released this week)

"You probably don't know Janet from Accokeek, Maryland," wrote Smoot. "But you two could be having dinner with President Obama together sometime soon."

The second dinner winner will be selected after midnight ET on March 3rd, and Obama for America has added a live countdown clock to the donation page, which accompanies a new dinner graphic. Smoot asked for a minimum $3 donation to dine with the President and the mysterious Janet, whose age, job, and background Smoot doesn't describe.

"We're counting down the hours until we draw the next name," Smoot wrote.

The $1,150 prize package includes a one-night hotel stay and airfare to DC, which Janet won't need, since she's in driving distance. The dinner is valued at $200; the airfare is valued at $800 and the hotel stay is valued at $150. Janet will be paying IRS taxes on her prize package.

The third and fourth winners will be selected after midnight on March 18 and March 31. They required to undergo background checks, and to sign legally binding documents that allow the unpaid use of their names, images, likenesses, etc. by Obama for America "for promotional purposes without further permission or compensation," because OFA releases photos and videos of the dinners. Read "French fries With The Leader Of The Free World," a behind-the-scenes look at the most recent "Dinner with Barack" event.

The President has already dined with the eight winners of two of the previous "Dinner with Barack" contests, but has not yet dined with the eight winners of the "Dinner with Barack and Michelle" contest, which includes the participation of First Lady Michelle Obama. The President ate dinner with the four winners of the first "Dinner with Barack" contest in October of 2011, at The Liberty Tavern in Arlington, VA. The second dinner contest was fulfilled with a luncheon; the President took his four winners to DC's Scion restaurant on January 6, 2012.

Smoot's e-mail had the subject line "Janet from Accokeek."

The text:

Friend --

You probably don't know Janet from Accokeek, Maryland.

But you two could be having dinner with President Obama together sometime soon.

Janet was the first guest selected for the next Dinner with Barack. And we're counting down the hours until we draw the next name.

The second seat could be yours -- you'll be automatically entered when you donate $3 or whatever you can today.

Janet told us that when she donated $25 last week she was just trying to show her support for the President.

No one ever thinks they'll be picked until they are.

Take the chance. Chip in $3 or more today to be automatically entered:

https://donate.barackobama.com/The-Second-Guest

Thanks,

Julianna

Julianna Smoot
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America

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