Dinner With Barack

ABC News’ Nik Bonovich Reports: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., used his star power to attract donations as small as $5 and a chance to have dinner with the Senator turned Democratic presidential contender.

Thousands of Americans made donations and submitted their own stories about why they are supporting Obama and four people with diverse backgrounds from different corners of the country were selected to have dinner with Obama in Washington, DC in July, all expenses paid by the campaign.

"I am looking forward to sitting down with this group of four people who are representative of the millions of voices that have been drowned out by the special interests in Washington," said Senator Barack Obama. "This dinner is about hearing from the everyday experts on how we can work together to change the problems facing this country today."

Haile Rivera, Bronx, NY, works with the Food Bank of New York City and founded a non-profit organization that gets young people involved in civics. He is concerned about minorities, young people and education. Michael Griffith, is a miner in the town of Fernley, NV, near Reno who is troubled about his family’s rising health care costs. Margaret Thomas-Jordan from Gonzales, LA is also concerned about rising health care costs for herself and two children while she is a nursing student. Her husband was deployed in Iraq last month. Jennifer Lasko is a former Republican activist from south Florida. She is a firefighter and paramedic who is concerned about the war in Iraq.