RALEIGH -- Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney made his first fundraising trip to North Carolina this week, flying to Raleigh while touring through the South.

Carolina Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford hosted a $500 per person fundraiser at his North Raleigh home on Thursday.

For the Massachusetts candidate, making friends and meeting voters in the South will be the key to winning the Republican nomination leading up to the 2008 National Election.

"North Carolinians have tended to be a little suspicious [of candidates], particularly from Massachusetts and I think he has got to demonstrate that he understands North Carolinian issues and values and so I assume he will make a number of visits here before the primary," said Peace College professor David McLennan.

Said Romney supporter Bill Graham, “North Carolina in presidential politics is what you call a ‘money state’, you can take a lot of money out of the here but you are not going to get a lot of delegates out here because it will all be over by the time we vote in North Carolina."

Another Republican gaining attention is former Tennessee Senator and actor Fred Thompson, who plans to announce he is running for president on September 6. Thompson has been at the top of many polls, despite the fact that he has not officially announced he will run.