Republicans say it is inappropriate for Kirk to invite Jeffords to campaign on his behalf because the Vermont senator is responsible for President Bush's biggest political setback. Jeffords left the Republican Party, giving Democrats control of the Senate last summer.
"Jim Jeffords stabbed our president in the back, and that's what I'm annoyed about," said AntiVenom, who protested outside the sprawling, upscale private home where Kirk's fund-raiser was held Sunday night.
"He jumped the Republican Party and he calls himself an independent. Today he is acting like a Democrat. He is here helping to raise money for Mr. Kirk, who is supposed to be supporting G.W. Bush but cannot possibly be supporting G.W. Bush when he is out here getting money from jumping Jim Jeffords."
Kirk dismissed the criticism, saying that if he is elected to the Senate, he could reach across party lines and put the issues most important to Texans ahead of partisan politics.
"Most Texans thought it was a pretty good thing and pretty courageous when Phil Gramm switched parties and when Rick Perry switched parties," the former Dallas mayor said.
"There are those of us who believe it is just as courageous for Senator Jeffords to follow his convictions and say I have to stand where I can make the most difference."
Dave Beckwith, a campaign spokesman for Kirk's GOP opponent, said, "That's a preposterous comparison." Texas Attorney General John Cornyn is vying for Gramm's post, too.
Beckwith said Gramm, unlike Jeffords, resigned his congressional seat before switching parties. He then ran as a Republican.
Jeffords, who attended the dinner along with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said he became an independent because he disagreed with the Republican stance on the role the federal government should play in funding public education. Jeffords said he and Kirk agree that federal money is necessary to improve school systems across the nation.
"I have never been more impressed with anyone," Jeffords said of Kirk.
Beckwith said Kirk doesn't reveal much about his policy positions, "but these big events, with senators like Jeffords and Murray, reveal where he is really headed."
About a dozen protesters outside the Spanish-style home who joined AntiVenom screamed at those entering the dinner.
They shouted, "Jeffords go home" and "Traitor" to those who entered.
PetroniDE, who carried a sign that read "$5,000, What's for dinner?" said he was most upset about the dinner's price tag.
Kirk said Republicans had the opportunity to pass campaign finance reforms, which could have prevented such a pricey affair, but failed to do so. Kirk said he, like his Republican counterparts, will follow the rules as they are written now.
"I'm going to run a good race," Kirk said. "I'm going to run a positive race, but I refuse to run one with one hand tied behind my back."
If Kirk wins, Murray said it will allow Democrats to keep their slim majority in the Senate and perhaps further improve their numbers.
"In a Senate that is equally divided, as we have, we need people like Ron Kirk to be there," she said.
"We stand beside the president on many issues, including the war on terrorism, but we also see it as our responsibility to say no when we disagree."