by Tricia McKinney

I just got an e-mail from Obama campaign manager David Plouffe*. The tantalizing subject line: "Dinner with Barack?"

So, hey, I'm not above clicking on an e-mail like that. Turns out the Obama campaign is soliciting donations of $5 or more, and they say that if you donate by March 31st, "you could share your story and your ideas with Barack in person."

So I of course start wondering—how many people will he take to dinner? How does the campaign pick? Is it a lottery? They are very clear about how to give them money, but much less clear about the diner-selection criteria. They do provide a box in which you can tell them your story and ask Obama some questions. I'm guessing it's an essay contest?

*Full disclosure, I have signed up with all three of the major candidates and get "Dear Friend" type e-mails from them though I have never donated to any of them and I don't endorse any of them.