The Obama for America campaign has run several "Dinner with Barack" contests as part of its fundraising efforts.  (The campaign also used this approach several times in the last election).  For the first dinner, entries were accepted from June 14-June 30, 2011, and four winners, "determined by a random drawing from all eligible entries to be held at Obama for America Headquarters on July 7, 2011," were to be chosen.  Although the campaign asked for a donation, people could also enter free online.  On June 27 the campaign announced that Vice President Joe Biden would join the dinner as well.  Below is a June 16 email from the campaign:



There was a "Dinner with Barack II" coinciding with the end of the 3rd quarter finance period.  The first email announcing the dinner, ostensibly from Barack Obama, arrived on Sept. 14, 2011; entries were accepted through Sept. 30.  According to the 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."  Then, "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."

The "Dinner with Barack III" promotion ran from Nov. 17-Dec. 31, 2011, and in a new wrinkle winning entrants will be able to bring a guest.  According to the 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 January 20, 2012."