Carolyn Kaster
The countdown has begun until the moment Obama announces his re-election campaign, and the President is working hard to win back some crucial donors. Obama hosted a meeting with two dozen Wall Street executives in the White House's Blue Room on Sunday, asking their opinion on how to speed up the economic recovery before turning the discussion to hot-button topics like the deficit and hedge fund regulation. The event was a clear indication of Obama's attempt to get back on Wall Street's good side, having angered many top dogs in the industry a year and a half ago when he called them "fat cats" who didn't deserve the large bonuses they were getting. Obama followed up the evening's event, organized by the Democratic National Committee, by making personal phone calls to those who were unable to attend. The President hopes to convince execs that his policies have never thwarted investors and have benefited ailing banks and markets.