President Obama isn't going to waste the actual day of his 51st birthday, August 4th, mingling with donors. The newly announced birthday party fundraiser at his Chicago home will be on August 12, the campaign's Rufus Gifford said today in an e-mail with the subject heading "SO COOL." First Lady Michelle Obama announced the 'Barack's Birthday' sweepstakes on Monday, but did not specify the date.'Looky loos' entering the online contest with the hope of getting a peek inside the President's tony Hyde Park home will be disappointed: The birthday bash will be "in the backyard," Gifford wrote.
"Have you ever gotten to do something so cool you're almost jealous of yourself?" Gifford wrote, as he asked for a $3 donation and noted that the party "is just 12 weeks before Election Day."
The campaign will fly two winners to Chicago and put them up in a hotel for one night as part of the prize package, which has an assigned retail value of $1,600, taxable to each winner. The contest closes on July 26th at midnight."We'd like to give grassroots supporters an opportunity to join in the fun," Mrs. Obama wrote on Monday. "You guys deserve it, and I know Barack would personally love to see you there."
As with all Obama for America contests, there's a required page where hopefuls can enter the contest for free--but don't hold your breath. The donation page on BarackObama.com.
The full text of Gifford's e-mail:
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Have you ever gotten to do something so cool you're almost jealous of yourself?
Pretty sure this would count: On August 12th, just three weeks before the Democratic National Convention and 12 weeks before Election Day, President Obama will have a few friends over to mark his 51st birthday -- in the backyard of his Chicago home.
And you're invited.
Make a donation today of $3 or whatever you can to be automatically entered for a chance to be there -- flight and hotel paid for.
Look, campaigns are hard work, both for the President and the millions of people like you who are building it on the ground. When you factor in the ridiculous amounts of money the Romney campaign and pro-Romney super PACs are raising, we're going to have to work even harder to win than we did in 2008.
Let's have some fun together before the final push to Election Day.
Enter today:
https://donate.barackobama.com/Birthday
Hope to see you there,
Rufus
Rufus Gifford
National Finance Director
Obama for America
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*Photo by Pete Souza/White House
