U.S. Senate Candidate Gets Boost From 'Game of Thrones' Author

By Kirsten Appleton September 18, 2014

Left, author George R.R. Martin arrives at the San Francisco Premiere For HBO's "Game Of Thrones" Season 3; right, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is seen in New Mexico during a round table discussion in Albuquerque, N.M., April 14, 2014.

Winter, er, Election Day is coming.

Enter for your chance to hang out with wolves, dragons and… New Mexico Sen. Tom Udall?

Ok, maybe the wolves and dragons will be no shows, but Udall's campaign has enlisted the help of "Game of Thrones" author George R.R. Martin who is holding a unique event for the incumbent senator's re-election bid.

One winner and a friend will get to attend the exclusive V.I.P event with Udall and Martin at Martin's personal cinema in Santa Fe, where a "discussion on New Mexico issues and politics in support of Sen. Udall's reelection campaign" will take place.

The minimum $5 donation for the contest gets the lucky winners airfare and hotel, along with V.I.P access to the main event, photo reception and dinner. General admission tickets start at $250, with additional meet and greet and photo reception tickets costing $1,000. Big fans (and supporters) might be most interested in the $2,600 ticket option, which will give them VIP access to the event, photo reception and an exclusive dinner where they will "get to talk with George and Tom and ask them anything," maybe even a few questions about Martin's upcoming books in the series. Or politics.

"A Game of Thrones," the first book of Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire," fantasy series was published in 1996. The series was adapted for television by HBO in 2011. Over seven million viewers watched the "Game of Thrones" season finale in June.

Both the Senator and author are supportive of New Mexico's conservation efforts. Earlier this year, Martin hosted a Prizeo fundraiser to benefit New Mexico's Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary and the Food Depot of Santa Fe, which went on to raise over $500,000. Martin is naming two characters in his upcoming novels after the highest donors.

Udall has served in the Senate since 2009, and is favored to win the election.