As the Obama entourage entered the West End Diner in Des Moines Sunday for an unscheduled stop, a staffer was overheard checking with restaurant workers if it would be OK to have the senator, his Secret Service detail, and a slew of reporters stop in for a visit. Thankfully, they obliged our motley crew. Obama shook some hands and then sidled up to the counter to talk to members of the press.

He was asked about “closing the deal” with voters (he says “we’re getting a third of the people who haven’t decided yet,” based on the undecided voters who show up to hear him, but there are some, he said, who won’t decide until the caucuses), fielding a question from a woman the previous day on his “Muslim background,” and several questions about his statements yesterday on John Edwards and 527 groups.

During the middle of the barrage, the senator paused to order the press a round of hot chocolate (of course the majority of us requested a coffee instead - it was early in the morning). This gesture came just the day after Hillary Clinton’s “gift to the media,” a candy cane for each reporter, was reported yesterday. It’s not game of candidate one-upmanship, though. The campaign says they planned this for a few days now.

As Obama stood up to leave, he was asked what his new year’s resolution is this year. Here’s his response:

done

That last promise to spend more time with us - we’ll see if that’s one promise he plans to keep.