Whitman is well known for her money; she has spent nearly $60 million of her own fortune on the campaign, but 500 people opened up their checkbooks to attend a dinner in Redwood Shores. The hotel ballroom was full of well known Republicans and people willing to spend $1,000 dollars Whitman.
"As much as I hate to admit it, what happens in California happens in the west, it happens all over America, it matters," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said.
But in the hotel bar some people wondered why Whitman needed to hold a fundraiser.
"I kind of feel she's buying the position and I just think it's ironic she's here raising money with some pretty big hitters and she's spent an exorbitant amt on this campaign," Alex Casillas said.
Whitman has already given her campaign $59 million of her own money and has said she is willing to go as high as $150 million. But she says fundraising is important too.
"This is an expensive race and I think it's very important to demonstrate the ability to raise money and have people invest in the campaign," Whitman said.
Supporters agree.
"She could just buy it, but the charge of 'Queen Meg' would really be true," Lissa Morgenthaler-Jones said.
Whitman brought in some big names, including former governors Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush, and former Secretary of State George Shultz.
"The state's terrific, the government's broken; we can fix it," Shultz said.
Friday's speakers may have impressed the audience, but Whitman critics do not seem threatened.
"Once the campaign starts and Jerry Brown gets into it we'll hear some big names on that side as well," Casillas said.
