CAPE ELIZABETH – Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, speaking Sunday night at a fund-raising reception, praised U.S. Sen. Susan Collins as an independent-minded leader of the Republican Party’s moderate wing.

“She fights for what she believes is right. She represents a very, very important part of the Republican Party,” Giuliani said.

He said GOP moderates are a particularly important force in New York, a city where Democrats hold a 5-1 enrollment advantage.

The outdoor event at Inn by the Sea drew about 300 guests and raised an estimated $50,000 for Collins, a freshman who is being challenged for re-election by Democrat Chellie Pingree, a former legislator.

Giuliani hailed Collins as a leader in efforts to make prescription drugs affordable, an issue that has been a centerpiece of Pingree’s campaign.

Giuliani became a national celebrity for his leadership after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City.