ORLANDO, Fla. -- The road to the White House goes through Central Florida with Republican presidential candidate John McCain in Orlando Thursday. Senator McCain is in Orlando trying to raise enough money to get his presidential campaign through the general election.

The fundraiser at Rosen Shingle Creek on Universal Boulevard is one of two stops the presumptive Republican nominee will attend in the city Thursday. There, supporters paid thousands for a seat.

McCain is currently far behind Senator Barack Obama when it comes to money raised. Since January, Obama's raised $262 million. McCain only brought in $89 million. Each person inside Thursday's fundraiser had to write a check for at least $2,300.

For months, Senator McCain has had the luxury of focusing on the general election. Now he must focus on his democratic opponent, who's already ahead of him financially. Some Central Florida heavyweights were in attendance at the private luncheon at the Rosen Shingle Creek hotel in Orlando to give him a boost.

"Senator McCain's issue has been settled for a number of months, so I think once he gets out in front of the people again, people are going to see him and enthusiastically support him," said Orange County Clerk Lydia Gardner.

Since January, McCain's raised only $89 million compared to Obama's $264 million, but Obama's also outspent McCain in recent months and Thursday his campaign announced the Democratic party will no longer accept contributions from federal lobbyists or political action committees.

That could be a major problem. Reports show the Republican party already has $35 million more than the DNC and some Republican insiders said if Obama chooses Hillary Clinton as his running mate that could bring in even more money.

Florida is a key fundraising state for both parties. So far, nearly 100,000 people in the state have donated to presidential campaigns. The only two states with more contributions are New York and California.

"Central Florida and the I-4 corridor is going to loom large and you're going to be seeing a lot of John McCain in the neighborhood in the days ahead," said Orange County Mayor Rich Crotty.

A McCain representative told Eyewitness News their numbers show May was a record fundraising month. She said they brought in more than $20 million.

After the fundraiser, McCain heads to the Walt Disney World Hilton to speak at a convention for Florida newspaper reporters and editors.