President Bush has asked presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, as well as top congressional leaders, to meet with him Thursday at the White House to discuss the financial rescue plan.

Bush called Obama, the Democratic candidate, and they spoke for several minutes, according to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton issued this statement:

“A few moments ago, President Bush called Senator Obama and asked him to attend a meeting in Washington tomorrow, which he agreed to do. Senator Obama has been working all week with leaders in Congress, Secretary Paulson, and Chairman Bernanke to improve this proposal, and he has said that he will continue to work in a bipartisan spirit and do whatever is necessary to come up with a final solution. He strongly believes the debate should go forward on Friday so that the American people can hear from their next President about how he will lead America forward at this defining moment for our country."

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke have been pushing the administration's bailout plan on Capitol Hill this week.