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Obama contest rules changed to avoid lottery issues

By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published July 8, 2008 at 8:35 p.m.
Updated July 8, 2008 at 8:36 p.m.

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Barack Obama's campaign changed the rules of a highly publicized fundraiser Tuesday, after gambling regulators said the contest — a chance at one of 10 trips to the Democratic National Convention — was an illegal lottery.

"We are happy to have resolved this issue working closely with state officials," said Nick Kimball, spokesman for the Obama campaign in Minnesota, where the controversy first surfaced, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

A spokesman for the Colorado Secretary of State said Democrats would have to get a license if they were conducting "a standard raffle where they're buying tickets" in order to win.

But under the new rules, supporters don't have to donate money to win one of the trips, which include a seat for Obama's acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High and a meeting with the candidate.

Instead, the campaign will choose 10 people based on "individuals' stories and other factors," said Matt Chandler, Colorado press secretary for the Obama campaign.

The campaign announced the contest Monday, minutes after officials confirmed Obama would give his speech at Invesco rather than the Pepsi Center, a switch that sources said could add $3 million to the cost of staging the Democratic National Convention.

In an e-mail to supporters, campaign manager David Plouffe said the campaign had "reserved a special place for a few of the people who brought us this far."

"If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person," the e-mail stated.

It then included a link to the Obama Web site and the words: "Make a donation now and you could have a front row seat to history."

The solicitation prompted an inquiry by the head of the Minnesota Gambling Control Board and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, the Star-Tribune reported Tuesday.

The Twin Cities is the site of the Republican National Convention.

Doug Forsman, a special agent who works in the public safety department's gambling enforcement division, said the fundraiser constituted a lottery, which can be conducted only by the Minnesota State Lottery.

Forsman told the newspaper he gave the Obama campaign two options: either state online that the contest was void in Minnesota or give people the option to participate without donating.

The campaign chose to change its Web site, according to the Star-Tribune.

On Tuesday night, the Web site included a separate link where people could participate in the contest without donating.

The fundraising strategy is not a new one, and not limited to the Obama campaign, which also offered dinners with the candidate during the primary season.

In January, Hillary Clinton's campaign sent out an e-mail from Clinton's daughter, Chelsea. In it, Chelsea Clinton said the campaign would select an "online supporter" to sit with her during a debate in Los Angeles and to meet Hillary Clinton.

Staff writer Bill Scanlon contributed to this report.

Comments

  • July 8, 2008

    10:29 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rickg19611 writes:

    Democrats were violating the law? How is it news that Democrats are criminals?

  • July 8, 2008

    11:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    timeandagain writes:

    Get used to it. Always remember the Clintons!!

  • July 8, 2008

    11:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    timeandagain writes:

    Obama is selling seats to Invesco like the Clintons sold beds in the Lincoln Bedroom...

    Watch the Rocky reset this article/comment!!