"Take this, we'll seal the deal," a man in a booth eating breakfast with three male companions told the Illinois senator as they chatted about the election. He held up their breakfast check. Agreeing, Obama snatched the bill quickly. "I've got your check," Obama said.
The man, Steve Czajkowski, 39, tried to grab it back, telling Obama he was only joking and that he didn't expect the presidential candidate to pay for their breakfasts. But Obama persisted and walked off grasping the check firmly.
Czajkowski, who told reporters the check totaled about $25, said, "I like his message. I like the way he's running his campaign."
But had Obama won his vote? Well, not exactly, said Czajkowski, who said he was working as a pastor at the Greenwood Community Church, "I'm Canadian," he said.
--- Compiled by Tom Raum
