GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Justin Amash's "Liberty Dinner Money Bomb" sweepstakes, featuring a meal with former presidential candidate and retiring Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, helped the Cascade Township legislator land more than $39,500 for his re-election bid.

"Donate and be entered for a chance to win a private dinner for you and a guest with Ron Paul and Justin Amash," a website promotion stated. "We'll cover the plane tickets, hotel rooms and dinner."

The contest raised concerns from Mlive.com readers who believed the prize, valued at $2,300, violated campaign finance regulations. A disclaimer that says no contribution is necessary to win appears to give Amash clearance to run the "money bomb" contest that ended at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.

Such fundraisers are becoming more common in state and national races, with donors being wooed with promises of a chance to have dinner or attend an event with a candidate. Each President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, his Republican opponent, have been raising money for weeks with similar solicitations.

On Amash's website, the disclaimer includes a way for would-be donors to take part in the sweepstakes without donating to the campaign.

The Amash campaign declined to comment on its promotion.

Amash is being challenged for the Third Congressional District seat by Steve Pestka, a former Kent County Circuit Court judge, state lawmaker and businessman.

In 2008, conservative blogs were quick to chide Barack Obama for a similar promotion because there was not a "no purchase necessary" disclaimer.

"A promotion may be characterized as a lottery if it has all three of the following elements: chance, a prize and consideration," New York lawyer Steven Bennett wrote in a 2007 booklet on how to implement sweepstakes.

The consideration aspect would include "something of value that the entrant must provide to participate in the sweepstakes," Bennett wrote.

Also in 2008, the Center for Competitive Politics published statements by associate general counsel for the AFSCME labor union concerning national raffles:

"The trick that keeps you out jail is to offer an ‘alternative method of entry’ that does not require payment of consideration," the attorney, Jessica Robinson, stated.

A spokesman for the Federal Election Commission told MLive no law prohibited candidates from offering lotteries, but also deferred comment to Michigan agencies on any relevant state statutes.

Representatives at the Michigan Secretary of State, Attorney General and Lottery offices each said the agencies either had no oversight or couldn't comment on the fundraiser.

"That scenario that you described does not fall under anything under purview of the lottery," said Andi Brancato, a spokeswoman for the state lottery office. "So unless it’s raising money for a charitable cause, then we would have no connection to it."

Zane McMillin may be reached through email and Twitter.