Table for two: President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign has launched a sweepstakes with the prize being a dinner with the president. Three people will win, the campaign says. Getting in the drawing doesn’t require making a contribution to the campaign, and it makes clear giving the president money for his re-election bid will not improve your chances of winning (though you’ve got to scroll through some text to get to the entry link for those who don’t wish to contribute while they sign up for the drawing). Entries are due by June 30, with the date of the dinner to be determined. The Obama for America campaign values the prize at $4,800. Check it out and get your name in the hat here.
Taking his time: Newt Gingrich began taking steps today to shut down his debt-laden White House bid, setting the stage for his endorsement of one-time rival Mitt Romney next week, and to rally Republicans behind their apparent nominee. Gingrich had a friendly telephone conversation today with Romney and has started planning an event where he would throw his support behind the likely nominee, Gingrich spokesman R. C. Hammond says. “It’s clear Romney is the nominee and the focus should be on defeating Obama. We should not focus on defeating ourselves,” Gingrich told disappointed supporters in Kings Mountain, N.C., the morning after Romney tightened his grip on the nomination by sweeping primary contests in five states.
In the showroom: Along with the debut of some more familiar-looking vehicles from companies like Chrysler, Infiniti, Volvo and many, many more, the Beijing Auto Show 2012 also recently served as a stage for some of the most futuristic-looking and high-tech cars on the planet—some of them fully electric and boasting 100-plus miles-per-gallon. Take a break from the grind this afternoon and check out a slideshow of unique vehicles from the show at the CBSnews.com website here.
