Up to $2,300 for 75 minutes and a muffin

BOARDMAN — Those attending today's Barack Obama fundraiser got to spend 75 minutes with the presidential hopeful at the Boardman home of Herb Washington.

Washington said the event went "extremely well" and those attending were able to ask questions of the Illinois senator and shake his hand.

Tickets to the event were $1,000 and $2,300. The latter amount is the maximum contribution a person can give a presidential candidate during the pre-2008 primary time. Washington didn't have a head count, but said it was well-attended. Others at the event said there were about 100 people there.

As for the price-tag, Washington said that there are different levels of participation in the presidential process. A rally, he said, would probably not attract "more influential" people because of the crowd size. Those on the "higher end" can help Obama's campaign, Washington said, by attending private fundraisers like the one at his house today.

Washington compared it to those who can afford to eat at five-star restaurants and those who grab a quick bite at McDonald's. Washington owns more than 20 local McDonald's restaurants.

As for the food at the fundraiser, Washington said he wanted to serve McDonald's. Because of a death in the family, Washington said he wasn't involved with the catering.

Instead of hot cakes, sausage and hash browns, those paying up to $2,300 got fruit, muffins, Danish, orange juice and coffee — not terribly different than some of the items on the McDonald's breakfast menu.