The campaign reworded a solicitation on its website to comply with state law. People can now win a trip without donating money.
Barack Obama’s presidential campaign modified a solicitation for donations on its national website Tuesday evening to comply with Minnesota lottery laws after it was informed by a state law enforcement investigator that it was violating state law.
The website had previously offered supporters who donated at least $5 to the campaign a chance to win a free trip for two to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Doug Forsman, a special agent with the state Department of Public Safety, said he told the campaign such a solicitation was illegal in Minnesota because it constituted a lottery. Only the Minnesota State Lottery is permitted to conduct lotteries in the state.
“We are happy to have resolved this issue working closely with state officials,” said Nick Kimball, a spokesman for the Obama campaign in Minnesota. “We look forward to continuing a substantive conversation with Minnesotans about Senator Obama’s ideas to … get America back on track.”
Forsman said he had given the national Obama campaign two options Tuesday morning.
Forsman, who works in the alcohol and gambling enforcement division, told the campaign it could state on the website that the contest was void in Minnesota and make it clear Minnesotans could not participate in the trip contest; or change the rules so a person could win the trip without donating.
Donation optional
Forsman said Kendall Burman, staff counsel for Obama for America headquarters in Chicago, agreed to make the donation optional.
“We never set out to criminalize these people,” Forsman said. “We always hoped it could be resolved by voluntary compliance.”
The Minnesota Gambling Board received a tip on Monday of a possible violation. Tom Barrett, executive director of the board, said it might represent an illegal raffle and turned the matter over to the Public Safety Department.
