The former New York City mayor's white Cadillac Escalade simply drove by reporters on his way to and from a local fundraising event here, where between 50 and 75 participants shelled out at least $1,000 for a dinner that included a photo with Giuliani.

Earlier Wednesday, Giuliani also attended a similar event in Alpine, which drew about 200 people. Between the two gatherings, campaign officials believe he added between $150,000 to $200,000 to his coffers.

The collapse of the Crandall Canyon mine in Huntington caused Giuliani to alter his planned visits to avoid attention, said Kristy Coleman, an event organizer for Giuliani's campaign.

"In light of the miners down south, he felt it was a little inappropriate to do any kind of big rallying," she said. "He knows how to react and what's appropriate and what's not. He was sensitive and sent sympathies to the people that are stuck in the mine."

However, the presidential hopeful utilized his stops to spread his message on keeping the U.S. on the offensive in fighting terrorism abroad and preventing illegal immigration, Coleman said.

Giuliani favors beefing up the nation's borders with Mexico and Canada. That support includes building a wall outfitted with surveillance equipment along the border with Mexico. He also favors giving ID cards to legal immigrants, she said.

"He is the only Republican candidate that can show he can do it," Coleman said, noting Giuliani's work at reducing crime in New York City by 60 percent as mayor.

The former mayor also says he will wean the country from its dependence on foreign energy by encouraging renewable energy resources and discussing other forms of energy production such as nuclear power. But to take the Republican nomination, Giuliani needs cash.

The party's frontrunner, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Mormon and favorite among most Utah Republicans, has siphoned about $3.8 million from the state. During Giuliani's visit in March, he raised about $88,000 - significantly lower than the $200,000 initially announced by his campaign.

Though many in the state claim Utah as Romney country, Giuliani picked up at least two votes in Lee and Pia Jensen, of Pleasant Grove.

"He will definitely be a president and man of the people," said Lee Jensen, a Pleasant Grove city councilman for who attended the Park City fundraiser. "He's someone the American people can relate to and has the potential to make an impact on the opposing party."

Giuliani is the sole Republican who can rally support to beat Democratic frontrunners Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, Coleman said. The former mayor also has the experience of how to respond to terrorists, following the Sept. 11 attacks.

"I've seen what the mayor can accomplish," said Margaux Kelleher, a part-time resident of Utah. Kelleher is also a resident of New Jersey.

"There was no hope on Sept. 11," she said, recalling that she feared her husband perished in the attacks. "Those were very difficult days. [Giuliani] was a leader."

Following the Park City event, Giuliani boarded a flight bound for Cincinnati, where he will talk today about stimulating the economy, Coleman said.

ngonzalez@sltrib.com