Former state Rep. David Miner is also raising money for Richard Moore.

The Wake County Republican has known the Democratic gubernatorial candidate since the two were freshman legislators in 1992. Back then, Miner was the youngest Republican in the House and Moore the youngest Democrat.

"With all due respect, I think he's the best candidate for governor in either party," he told Dome.

Miner has a long history as a Republican fundraiser, having gathered donations for the presidential campaigns of Jack Kemp in 1998, Bob Dole in 1996 and George W. Bush in 2000. He'll be at a fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani tonight.

Still, he said the personal connection matters.

"He asked me to help two and a half years ago," he said. "That's always important in politics—somebody who takes the time to call and ask for your support."

Former state Rep. David Miner is backing Rudy Giuliani.

The Wake County Republican will co-host a fundraiser in Raleigh tonight for the former New York City mayor's presidential campaign.

He said he was asked by friends three weeks ago to help raise money, but he is not involved in an official role in the campaign. He said he had already privately decided to back Giuliani because of his strength as a "big-tent candidate."

"I think Giuliani is a guy who can run coast to coast," he said. "If he's the nominee for our party, he'll be a competitive candidate from California to New York."

Over the weekend, some Republican activists and bloggers tried to get Giuliani's state chairman to drop Miner from the fundraiser because of his ties to Democrats and allegations about his personal life.

Fresh from a 16-day trip to Barbados, Miner said he hadn't heard anything about the effort and still plans to attend the fundraiser.