While Republican White House hopefuls have been fighting among themselves in the race for the GOP nomination, two last night kept their internecine differences to themselves to focus on a common enemy: the Democrats, whom they labeled as anti-growth and dangerous to America’s national security.

Mayor Giuliani and Senator McCain came to a Midtown hotel to rally donors at the New York Republican State Committee dinner, vowing to help rebuild the state GOP — Mr. Giuliani told the donors that “you and I” would see victory in 2008 — and ensure the party carries New York in 2008.

Both sought to distinguish themselves from the other candidates in the race to fight America’s enemies around the world.

“They are called Islamic terrorists. Yes, I can say the words Islamic terrorists,” Mr. Giuliani told the crowd. “You might notice that during the Democratic debate, these words never passed the mouths of any of the Democratic candidates.”

Mr. McCain said he maintained hope that a Republican could win the White House. “Joseph Lieberman, my favorite Democrat would never — would never — have been reelected” if Democrats had truly dominated the election, he said.

Mr. Giuliani took a page from President Reagan, voicing optimism and ridiculing what he implied was Democratic pessimism.

“I pray to God that I’m elected, but I’m doing it not with my head down not doing what so many of those Democrats do — you know, ‘Things are so bad, things are so terrible, and we’re falling apart and we have to retreat,'” Mr. Giuliani said.

The 1,100 GOP donors who paid $1,000 a plate to hear the presidential hopefuls speak were attending the first dinner of the New York Republican State Committee in almost a decade, the group’s chairman, Joseph Mondello, said.

Mr. Mondello said the party had also invited Governor Romney of Massachusetts, but Mr. Romney ultimately declined after initially accepting.

“He accepted and then he declined,” Mr. Mondello said.