Obama to meet with GM, Ford chiefs this week
 

Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, will meet with leaders of Ford Motor Co. and General Motors this week.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally is among 10 business executives who are will meet with Obama privately in Chicago on Wednesday.

General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner is scheduled to participate in a forum on competitiveness with Obama on Thursday in Pittsburg, campaign officials confirmed.

The meetings may signal a thaw in the chilly relationship that had developed between the Obama camp and the domestic auto industry. The strain emerged in May of 2007 when Obama spoke at The Detroit Economic Club and chided the Detroit automakers for not making more fuel-efficient cars.

Meanwhile, President George W. Bush is scheduled to speak at a 1,000 to 5000 per person fundraiser for the Michigan Republican Party in Livonia Wednesday.

About 350 people are expected to attend the event.