BY BETH REINHARD

As a first-time candidate for Congress, Miami Democrat Joe Garcia welcomes the support of one of his party's highest-ranking leaders.

But a hand from U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York -- who has met repeatedly with Fidel Castro -- may rile voters in the heavily Cuban-American congressional district in western Miami-Dade, currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.

Rangel is billed as a ''special guest'' at a fundraiser April 21 in New York City for Garcia.

''Joe Garcia continues to align himself with left-wing extremists. The latest to join the ranks is Congressman Charlie Rangel,'' reads a statement from Diaz-Balart's campaign. ``He has a long and well-known history of supporting a radical left-wing agenda including supporting higher taxes on working families and appeasing our nation's enemies. Left-wing birds of a feather, tax and spend together.''

The race will test the conventional wisdom of Miami politics: The harder the line a candidate takes against the Cuban government, the better the candidate does at the polls.

Diaz-Balart supporters maintain that the community remains dead-set against lifting economic sanctions and travel restrictions aimed at depriving the Cuban government of credibility and, more importantly, dollars. Garcia and other Democrats argue that Cuban Americans are increasingly fed up with the policies that have yet to usher in democracy to the island.

''I'm not going to fall into the ridiculous red-baiting that my opponent does,'' Garcia said.

Garcia, who previously served as executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation, said he has ''serious disagreements'' with Rangel on Cuba. But having a relationship with the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee would help him bring federal money back to the district, he said.

''I'm going to disagree with Charlie Rangel on a few issues, but agreeing on some other things will help me bring jobs to Miami-Dade County and put money in the economy,'' he said.

As one of the most outspoken critics of American policy toward Cuba, Rangel has pushed legislation that would allow all U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba and allow American firms to do business there. Garcia supports more moderate reform, like allowing Cuban Americans to visit their families and send money to the island.

In 2006, Rangel acknowledged that the Cuban government had partly paid for a 2002 trip in which he met with Castro. He initially listed two other sponsors on a travel disclosure form.

In a column in the Washington Post last year, Rangel and U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona wrote: ``Ever-tightening sanctions have won votes in Florida for both Republicans and Democrats. But these sanctions have done nothing to promote change in Cuba, and they have kept American strengths -- diplomacy and contact with American society -- squarely on the sidelines.''

Since he declared his candidacy in February, Garcia said he has raised $330,000. Another powerful Democratic leader in Congress, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, is slated to attend a Miami reception for Garcia later this month.

Democratic candidates are also challenging Miami Republicans Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

''The Democratic party is making an investment in South Florida, and they think this is a winnable seat,'' Garcia said.

Diaz-Balart's campaign said he raised more than $340,000 between January and March, boosting his campaign account total to $750,000.