WASHINGTON — Rep. J.C. Watts, chairman of the House Republican Conference, on Saturday invited Al Gore's campaign manager to meet and talk about GOP efforts to help the urban poor, just days after Watts denounced Donna Brazile for criticizing black Republicans.

Chris Paulitz, a spokesman for the GOP conference, said the invitation to Brazile wasn't exactly an attempt to "kiss and make up," however.

"Obviously, she does not know what J.C. and the Republican party are doing for the African-American community," Paulitz said. "We're reaching out to show her."

Brazile got into hot water this past week by saying in an interview that Republicans such as Gen. Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Watts, R-Okla., would rather have their pictures taken with poor black children than help feed them.

Powell responded with an angry letter to the Gore campaign, and Brazile and Gore separately telephoned the retired general -— although they refused to say whether either apologized.

Watts said he invited Brazile meet with him to discuss the American Community Renewal Act, a Republican program that aims to improve the economy and conditions in cities by offering tax benefits to businesses and home buying help, for example.

The Democratic party has its own urban renewal program, known as "New Markets" initiative, and last year President Clinton and House Speaker Dennis Hastert announced a bipartisan effort to steer investment to the nation's neediest urban and rural areas.

There was no word on whether any Watts-Brazile meeting will take place.