The news came 40 minutes before the US president, at pains to convince wary lawmakers to adopt his administration's US$700 billion (S$996 billion) Wall Street rescue plan, was to take his case to the US public in a prime-time televised speech.
Mr Bush, who telephoned Mr Obama around 7.30pm (7.30am Singapore time), hopes 'to work on driving towards a bipartisan and timely solution on the financial rescue package', said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.
mr Fratto said leaders from both major US parties and both the Senate and House of Representatives were also to attend the highly unusual sit-down amid fears that US inaction could trigger a global financial meltdown.
Asked whether everyone had accepted Mr Bush's invitation, which comes just six weeks before the US elections, Mr Fratto replied: 'Yes'.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton confirmed in a statement that the Illinois senator would attend.
Mr Obama has worked all week with top lawmakers, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, and Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and 'will continue to work in a bipartisan spirit and do whatever is necessary to come up with a final solution,? said Mr Burton. -- AFP