As President Obama met with Republican leaders at the White House early Tuesday, he had already made progress on one goal of the meeting: Getting more of his appointees confirmed by the Senate.

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., has released holds on about 70 Obama appointees, an action he took to protest the Pentagon's handling of contracts for projects he wants in his state.

"The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House's attention on two issues that are critical to our national security — the Air Force's aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI's Terrorist Device Analytical Center," Shelby spokesman Jonathan Graffeo said.

Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs had called Shelby's hold an "example of what's wrong with this town."

Shelby is retaining "a few" holds on Pentagon nominees, according to his office.