Burlingame — Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman raised $350,000 at a toney fundraiser with help from former Secretary of State Condolleeza Rice Tuesday, even as noisy protesters — including teachers, nurses and firefighters — gathered outside against a candidate they called “Wall Street Whitman.”

A confident, upbeat Whitman, backed by an enormous scenic billboard that promised “A New California,” was introduced as “the next governor of California” and greeted with cheers.

“We have just 42 days left..and you know what that means? That means I’ve been running for governor for 589 days,” she told the crowd who paid $1000 each for tickets.

Neither Whitman nor Rice spoke to the press before or after the event. But the Republican candidate, speaking to the audience, said she was confident she will turn out the Republican base, noting they are already “carrying pitchforks and torches..and saying “which way to the castle?”

And the former eBay CEO also vowed to turn out Latinos, small business owners, and women, boasting she is working to build “the largest women’s coalition ever in American politics.”

Whitman also predicted she will attract 18-29 year old voters who supported President Barack Obama in the election of 2008, because she said they are now concerned about one issue — jobs.

“Rarely has California had a chance to put a real, proven job creator in the governor’s office…. and of course, never before has a woman lead our state,” she said to cheers. “You have chosen a new direction for California at a very crucial time in our history.”

And, Whitman used the opportunity to push the entire GOP statewide ticket, saying “we can not only claim the governor’s office..we can bring a whole set of constitutional officers to Sacramento.”

The Republican crowd cheered at a slick video starring Whitman that pushed the entire GOP ticket, including U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina, Secretary of State candidate Damon Dunn, Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, who is running for re-election, and Attorney General candidate Steve Cooley.

Whitman introduced Rice as a close friend, “someone I’ve played golf with…and one of my heroes.”

And Rice, who is a Hoover Institution fellow at Stanford University, where she is teaching and writing, said that Whitman and her are “passionate about the same things,” including free enterprise, jobs — and education.

Inside the Hyatt Regency Burlingame, about 350 Republicans who paid $1,000 and up for a chance to meet Whitman and Rice said they were buoyed by the former eBay CEO’s campaign, and her standing in the polls.

“I was a Poizner guy, and I’ve watched Meg: she’s gotten better and better,” said Michael DeNunzio, the former chair of the San Francisco Republican Party, one of crowd who dined on mixed green salad, rack of lamb and flourless chocolate cake. “What we’re seeing is an incredible sense of energy and excitement on our side.”

But Jed Burnham of the San Bruno Education Association and Gail Mendes of the California Teachers Association, speaking to Shaky Hand Productions, didn’t feel exactly the same way:

They were joined out on the street in front of the Hyatt by a crowd of about 200 labor activists who gathered, sang songs, and cheered anti-Whitman “Wall Street Whitman” signs. Some said the former eBay CEO’s appearance alongside Rice was especially troubling.

“She’s very close to the Bush cronies who got us into the situation where we are today,” said Zennie Cortez, a Peninsula nurse and member of the California Nurses Association. “If she gets elected, we all know where we’re headed.”