NEW YORK -- Sen. John McCain brought his campaign for the White House to New York City metro area, where he met with supporters and attended what could be the largest fundraiser of his career.

Interactive: Compare Candidates

The sold-out event, which was chaired by New York Jets owner Woody Johnson and included an appearance by Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump.

Organizers predicted the event could raise $7 million for his White House bid.

The fundraiser is the first event at which the senator will couple his own fundraising efforts with those of the Republican National Committee and with several of McCain's state committees, meaning he is able to legally raise $70,000 from each guest.

McCain was also due Thursday to swing by a firehouse here before being honored as one of TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People. He was also slated to attend a finance luncheon in New Jersey.

Also on the schedule: McCain took a turn on the Daily Show with John Stewart.

During the show’s taping, McCain pretended to walk off the set when Stewart pressed him on whether President Bush is more of a liability for him than the Rev. Jeremiah Wright is for Obama. Then McCain fiddled with his microphone and mouthed "technical difficulties" into the camera.

McCain deadpanned about the marathon race between the Democrats: "I hate to watch it. It's terrible. My heart goes out to them."

The all-but-certain Republican nominee did reveal a few tidbits. His Secret Service code name, he thinks, "is 'jerk,'" and his choice for a vice presidential running mate is Dwight Schrute, a character on the NBC sitcom, "The Office," played by Rainn Wilson.