Siesta Key resident Gary Kompothecras has arguably been the most influential Republican campaign donor in the region over the last five years, giving more than $1 million to GOP causes and candidates.

And Sarasota resident Frank Brunckhorst may have been the most influential Democratic donor during the same period, with more than $1 million in contributions to that party’s priorities and candidates statewide.

But in an unusual political development, both now find themselves on the same side, underscoring the unique nature of Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist’s latest campaign for governor.

Brunckhorst, former chairman of one of the nation’s leading distributors of deli products, and Kompothecras, founder of a medical referral business, were among more than a dozen key political players who helped organize a private event at a downtown Sarasota restaurant this week to help Crist raise money to run against Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican.

While the room was filled primarily with Democratic donors, it also included some key Republican contributors. Of the seven people listed as event chairs — meaning they had raised at least $5,000 for Crist as a Democrat — four have given to Republicans in the past. These included Palmer Ranch developer Hugh Culverhouse Jr., a Miami Republican.

“That event represented the problem Crist presents for Republicans and Scott,” explained Sarasota Democrat Keith Fitzgerald, a former state representative, said. “He’s a warm guy and he appeals to a lot of people who are not ordinarily in the same room together.”

At the Wednesday-night fundraiser, convened with more than 120 donors, Crist was at one point conversing with Kompothecras and former Democratic congressional candidate Christine Jennings. That’s a cocktail trio few would have expected to see just a few years ago.

Crist, who switched parties in 2012, said in an interview that events like the one in Sarasota with both Republicans and Democrats are being replicated elsewhere. What’s more, he said “it’s happening all over the state.”

Fitzgerald said other Republicans are backing Crist yet aren’t willing to go public, fearing a potential backlash within the GOP. He said Crist built GOP friendships over decades, and many of those allies feel they can still work with Crist, even in his Democratic iteration.

If polls continue to show Crist leading Scott, Fitzgerald said he expects more GOP donors will defect to Crist.

Republican Party of Florida officials say Crist won’t pull that many Republicans from Scott come November, because most feel betrayed by his party switch.

In 2010, Crist began a run for the U.S. Senate as a Republican. But after he fell behind in polls to Republican Marco Rubio, Crist shifted his affiliation to independent. Rubio went on to win the contest.

In 2012, Crist campaigned for President Barack Obama’s re-election, later changing his voter registration to Democrat.

“Ninety-nine percent of Republicans will be with Rick Scott,” said Susan Hepworth, a spokeswoman with the Florida Republican Party.

Inroads and obstacles

While Crist is making inroads with some GOP donors in Sarasota, he still faces a sizable financial disadvantage against Scott.

Georgia Blotzer of Venice gets a photo with former Gov. Charlie Crist who was in Sarasota for an evening fundraiser and book-signing at BookStore1 Sarasota on Wednesday. (March 26, 2014, Herald-Tribune Staff Photo by Thomas Bender)

Crist has raised about $6 million between his main campaign account and a political action committee set up to support his campaign.

Scott, elected in 2010, has more than $28 million, combined, in his campaign account and a political action committee.

Still, public opinion polls show a stubborn level of support for Crist among Republicans. In a Qunnipiac University poll released in January, 40 percent of Republicans who are registered voters said they approved of how Crist handled the job as governor from 2006 to 2010. Yet only 14 percent of Democrats said they approved of Scott’s handling of his job as governor.

Worse for Scott, Republican sources said internal GOP polls show just 58 percent of Republicans approve of Scott’s handling of his job. For most Republican candidates, that number is more than 80 percent.

For some Republicans, the support for Crist is about familiarity with him, mixed with frustration with Scott. Kompothecras has big differences with Scott on some insurance-related issues, but said the key motivator is that he just knows Crist better.

“Charlie Crist is my friend and I stick by my friends,” said Kompothecras, known for his 1-800-Ask-Gary business, which refers car-accident victims to medical clinics and lawyers.

For Culverhouse, the donations to Crist are about making a statement against the extremism that he said has created trouble in American politics.

“I am supporting moderates, regardless of the party,” Culverhouse said.