Mel Watt set to lead Congressional Black caucus

U.S. Rep. Mel Watt said he hopes to repair relations between the Republican White House and the Congressional Black Caucus when he takes over as its chairman. The Charlotte Democrat, whose district stretches northeast into Greensboro, apparently is the only candidate to lead the group of African American lawmakers. They fill the two-year post Dec. 6. President Bush met with caucus members -- an all-Democrat bunch -- soon after he assumed office in 2001. But despite a promise to invite them back, he never did, according to group officials. Watt said he accepted Bush's pledge to work with political foes during a second term. The caucus, he said, would pursue "an aggressive outreach" to the administration. "They say they want to have a new attitude, and we'll give them a chance," Watt said. "... We're not holding the last four years against him." Word emerged earlier this year that Watt harbored an interest in the caucus chairmanship. He was not eager to talk about it until after he won re-election, which he did against Republican Ada Fisher. The Congressional Black Caucus was formed in 1970 with 13 members. Thanks in part to revised legislative districts lines that created black-dominated voting tracts, their ranks have swelled to the 43 elected in November. [more]