Obama campaign agrees to modify website -- no donation required to win free trip

[highplainsdem]

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/24086689.html

By RANDY FURST, Star Tribune

Last update: July 8, 2008 - 6:45 PM

Barack Obama's presidential campaign agreed on Tuesday afternoon to modify a solicitation for donations on its national web site in order to be in compliance with Minnesota lottery laws, a special agent with the state Department of Safety said today.

The revised web site language will state that a person need not make a donation to the Obama campaign in order to be eligible to win a free trip to Denver to attend Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic Party National Convention on Aug. 28.

The campaign was informed earlier today by the Department of Public Safety that its previous solicitation violated Minnesota statutes governing lotteries. The web site had stated that anyone making a donation of $5 or more would be eligible to be selected as one of 10 supporters who would be chosen to meet Obama backstage before the rally and then watch his acceptance speech.

Doug Forsman, a special agent with the state public safety department's alcohol and gambling enforcement division, said that a staff counsel for the Obama campaign in Chicago told him the campaign would work immediately to modify the web site.

"We never set out to criminalize these people," he said. "We always hoped it could be resolved by voluntary compliance."

The Minnesota Gambling Board received a tip on Monday of the possible violation. Since the board only oversees charity gambling, it referred the matter the public safety department which investigates other forms of gambling.

[NattPang]

1. The Republicans were on the case

pronto!

[MarjorieG]

4. They didn't like the money making opportunity while our general money kicks in.

[NYC_SKP]

2. Here's the link:

Now, some of you might be between paychecks or already have donated all you can.

The rest of you must cough up a donation, K? thx bye.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/openconvention1

:hi:

[highplainsdem]

3. kick