Ford CEO to attend Obama meeting with business leaders

Ford CEO Alan Mulally will be one of the business leaders invited to meet with President Obama on Wednesday to discuss congressional budget negotiations, according to a White House office.

Mulally will be joined by executives from companies such as American Express, Wal-Mart, General Electric and Procter & Gamble as the president tries to reset his relationship with the U.S. business community after an often-contentious first term.

Obama made his support for the U.S. auto industry a central tenant of his pitch to voters for reelection, touting the $80 billion bailout that was given to Ford's Detroit-based competitors General Motors and Chrysler. Ford did not receive a bailout, but its leaders testified in favor of the assistance to GM and Chrysler when it was first being considered by Congress in 2008.

Obama is scheduled to meet with labor leaders and other liberal groups on Tuesday.

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