The old Jim Hunt crowd gathered in Raleigh on Friday for the groundbreaking of the library that will bear the former governor's name and for lunch at the Park Alumni Center at N.C. State University, Rob Christensen reports.

The crowd included a who's who from Hunt's 16 years as governor, including Jim Phillips, former chairman of the UNC Board of Governors; former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Burley Mitchell; Norris Tolson, a transportation secretary under Hunt; former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde; Hunt's former spokeman and strategist Gary Pearce; former Human Resources secretary Lucy Bode; former Cultural Resources secretary Betty McCain; former aide Ed Turlington, and former state Democratic chairwoman Barbara Allen.

Just to name a few. 

And what would a gathering of politicians be without a little fund raising? 

At the lunch, Hunt announced a $20 million fund raising campaign to help cover some of the costs of the library that will also serve as headquarters for the Institute for Emerging Issues, the think tank Hunt created.

"This is a marvelous opportunity," Hunt said. "It really is."

Sen. Elizabeth Dole's campaign is no longer airing a commercial that has drawn national attention that ties her opponent, Democrat Kay Hagan to Boston fundraiser hosted by an organizer of the Godless Americans PAC.

Dole spokesman Dan McLagan said the campaign began taking it off the air on Friday although it still aired on a few stations on Saturday. In its place, the Dole campaign is airing a second TV commercial that deals with the same Boston fundraiser, but in a less strident way, Rob Christensen reports.

McLagan said the decision to stop airing the ad was not related to the criticism it has received not only from Democrats, but from some Repubublican conservatives as well. Hagan has called the ad "despicable."

The Dole ad decided to replace the ad with a second one after Hagan ran a TV commercial sharply criticizing the original. The original ad began airing Tuesday.

"We went to the second version of it," he said. "We knew there were would be push back on (the first ad)."

Meanwhile, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton was in Raleigh Saturday night where she attended a fund raiser for Hagan. The fundraiser was held at the home former ambasasdor Jeanette Hyde.

Update: McLagan said the ad aired between Tuesday afternoon and was still running Friday. He said that it was run enough times to be seen between eight and 10 times by every North Carolinian, or 800 to 1,000 points in industry parlance.

"We didn't pull the ad any more than we pulled any other ad that we've run that's reached saturation," he said.

He said that the campaign planned the new ad all along and was waiting for Hagan's response to air the second ad. The new ad buy was made mid-Friday.

"We had planned to wait for her response and then respond," he said.

Former state Democratic chairman Wade Smith raised big bucks for Barack Obama this week.

Smith, a leading Raleigh defense attorney, hosted a fund raiser at his home, featuring Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett. She was introduced by Democratic Gov. Mike Easley, Rob Christensen reports.

Among those attending were former Gov. Jim Hunt.

Smith said it was one of the largest and most enthusiastic fund raisers he has ever held with well over 100 people jammed into house. But he was not certain how much was raised.

The event was organized by John Crumpler, a Raleigh businessman, long active in Democratic politics.

Admission was $1,000 per person. But to be a host a person had either give or agree to raise $10,000 for the Obama Victory Fund.

After the jump, a list of the hosts.

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Beverly Perdue is meeting with donors June 30.

The Democratic gubernatorial nominee will hold a "Perdue '08 Victory Tour" fundraiser at the Glenwood Avenue home of former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde at 5 p.m., according to an invitation that Dome has seen.

It's a high-dollar affair, with "Sponsor" level tickets going for $1,000, "Patron" level tickets at $2,000 and "Host" level tickets for $4,000. 

Valet parking will be provided at the event, according to the invitation.

Kay Hagan will have some high-profile visitors next week.

The Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate will meet with Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Jon Tester of Montana at a fundraiser Monday evening.

The event is being sponsored by former ambassador Jeanette Hyde in Raleigh. Former Gov. Jim Hunt will also be at the event.

McCaskill may be a familiar face to some around here. She campaigned for Barack Obama on May 3, attacking the gas-tax proposal then being touted by Hillary Clinton.

She has been touted by some as a possible vice presidential pick by Obama.

Tester, an organic farmer with a buzz cut, was elected in 2006.

The guest list at the Hillary Clinton event at Wake Tech includes a few notables.

State Sen. Vern Malone, Reps. Tricia Cotham and Ronnie Sutton, former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, Raleigh City Councilwoman Mary Ann Baldwin and Wake County Commissioner Lindy Brown.

Also on the list: Raleigh attorneys Bruce Thompson and Michael Petty, Raleigh public relations executive Joyce Fitzpatrick and former N.C. Industrial Commission chairman Buck Lattimore.

The most interesting name: Muriel Offerman.

Offerman is a still offically undecided superdelegate to the Democratic Convention. As we reported last week, Clinton personally called Offerman's work phone.

Maybe she's not so undecided after all...

Update: Dome also spotted Garner Mayor Ronnie Williams among the honored guests.

Former President Bill Clinton will meet with key supporters later today at a reception at the Raleigh home of former Ambassador Jeannette Hyde.

“It’s actually for people willing to endorse Hillary Clinton or be on the statewide steering committee,” Hyde told Rob Christensen. “It’s kind of a briefing on the campaign and a thank you.”

Clinton will attend the private event after first appearing at public events in Charlotte and Cary.

Helping put the event together is former state Democratic chairman Tom Hendrickson, a Raleigh businessman. Among those expected to attend are former state Democratic chairwoman Barbara Allen, and Jane Patterson, a former secretary of administration.

Among the North Carolinians expected to endorse Clinton — although not attending tonight’s event — are retired Charlotte bank executive Hugh McColl; Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the joint chiefs of staff; and poet Maya Angelou, according to Hyde.

The Democratic candidates for state treasurer are releasing their fundraising numbers.

Buncombe County Commissioner David Young started it off Wednesday with the announcement yesterday that he raised $437,857 as of Dec. 31, including more than $230,000 in December alone.

His donors included Raleigh real estate executive Steve Stroud, former ambassador Jeanette Hyde, philanthropist Walter Davis and Raleigh community leader Ann Goodnight.

Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel announced later that day that he raised $464,000 as of Dec. 31.

The other Democratic contender, state Sen. Janet Cowell, released her numbers today. She said she raised $209,000 during the final quarter of 2007.

The actual campaign finance reports will not be available until the end of the month. All figures are based on campaign press releases.

No word so far on fundraising from the two Republican candidates in the race, Reps. Bill Daughtridge and Dale Folwell.

Bill Clinton is coming to Raleigh today.

The former president will be the honored guest at a 3:45 p.m. fund-raising reception at the Brier Creek Country Club to raise money for his wife's presidential campaign.

The cost of the event is $1,000, or $2,300 for a 3:30 p.m. VIP reception that includes a photograph with him.

No public events are planned, and the press will not be allowed to cover the event.

Raleigh resident Jeanette Hyde, the ambassador to Barbados during the Clinton administration, said she expects more than 200 people at the event.

"It's going really, really well," she said. "There's a lot of excitement, even right here at Christmas."

Former President Bill Clinton will attend a Raleigh fundraiser next month on behalf of his spouse, Sen. Hillary Clinton.

Clinton will attend an event on Dec. 13 at the Brier Creek Country Club. The cost is $1,000 per person or $2,300 for a smaller reception that includes a photograph with the ex president.

"We are expecting a big group," said former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, who is helping organize the event. "There is alot of enthusiasm."

Other old Clinton hands involved in putting together the event include former state Sen. Tom Taft of Greenville, and former state party chairman Tom Hendrickson of Raleigh. Richard Sullivan, a Clinton fundraiser who lives in Raleigh, has also been involved.

Correction: An earlier version of this post said Hillary Clinton would be coming to town.