BY LESLEY CLARK

When it comes to normalizing relations with Cuba, there are few members of Congress more devoted to the cause than Rep. Charles Rangel.

For more than a decade, the Harlem Democrat has led a charge in the House to scrap the trade embargo against the island. He has traveled to Cuba, talked for hours with Fidel Castro and, in 2000, filed a resolution calling for Elián González to be sent back to Cuba to be reunited with his father.

So it kicked up a stir among some Cuban exiles when word emerged that Rangel will lend his considerable fundraising skills Monday night to Democratic congressional hopeful Joe Garcia, a former director of the staunchly pro-embargo Cuban American National Foundation.

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, the Republican congressman Garcia is looking to oust, called Rangel a ''radical left-wing extremist'' and suggested the twice-decorated Korean War veteran had a history of ''appeasing our nation's enemies.'' Spanish-language radio trashed Rangel, and a group of Venezuelans living in South Florida, who say Rangel is also too cozy with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, asked Garcia to reconsider the fundraiser.

Garcia, though, defends the decision, arguing that it's in the district's best interests to have a working relationship with Rangel, who as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee is one of the most powerful members of Congress.

''It's this kind of behavior,'' Garcia said, referring to Diaz-Balart's characterization of Rangel, ``that got us zero when the Republicans were in power and less than zero now that the Democrats are in power.''

Garcia, who supports the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, said he has ''profound disagreements'' with Rangel's Cuba stance and has debated him on television and in person.

''But I agree with him that we need lower healthcare costs, better jobs and improved education,'' Garcia said.

CLOUT QUESTIONED

Republicans question Rangel's clout, noting he's lost every bid to weaken sanctions against Cuba. And they dismiss Rangel's influence, saying he chairs the tax panel, not the appropriations committee that doles out federal dollars. But Rep. Kendrick Meek, a Miami Democrat who is neutral in the congressional race, said he had his choice of committee assignments and took a seat on Ways and Means because of its relevance to South Florida when it comes to trade policies and other issues.

And at least one South Florida Republican with ties to both Mario Diaz-Balart and his brother, Miami Republican Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, has sought to tap Rangel for help.

Miami lobbyist Ana Navarro, a longtime supporter of the Diaz-Balarts, said she hosted Rangel in her home last December. She said the gathering was not a fundraiser but an opportunity for a dozen Miami cigar makers to talk to Rangel and share their opposition to a proposal Democrats had to hike cigar taxes to pay for children's health insurance.

''I thought long and hard about it but knew if he came to my house, it would be under my terms and my conditions,'' she said.

''At the meeting when I introduced him, I said publicly that he and I did not agree on anything but that it was a working meeting to give the cigar industry a chance to talk with him,'' Navarro said. She said she did not contribute to Rangel's campaign, though campaign finance reports show Florida cigar makers contributed at least $10,000 to Rangel in December.

Navarro and other Republicans suggest Rangel's interest in seeing Garcia elected is rooted solely in his desire to scrap the embargo.

''He wants to get rid of the Diaz-Balarts because he knows they're unmoveable obstacles to passing any legislation softening the embargo,'' Navarro said.

Rangel, though, says his interest in the race is sparked by partisan politics.

''Joe Garcia happens to be our Democratic candidate for a congressional seat in the Miami area,'' Rangel said in a statement to The Miami Herald. ``He is a fine candidate for Congress who will do an outstanding job in representing his constituents, and therefore I will do everything that I can to help him get elected.''

NOT AUTHORIZED

An earlier draft of the statement from Rangel's office sent to the newspaper also said the congressman supported former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, a Democrat challenging Lincoln Diaz-Balart. But Rangel's office later said that release had not been authorized by the congressman.

Rangel's interest in Cuba is deep-seated, though he gives it only passing reference in his recent biography, And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress.

First elected to the House in 1970, he's routinely reelected with nearly 90 percent of the vote and is credited with helping to revitalize Harlem through championing efforts like federal empowerment zones.

In his statement, Rangel said suggestions that he's friendly with Castro have ``no foundation in fact. Like most members of Congress, I want to see democracy and freedom flourish in Cuba as soon as possible. It is hard to think of any other country that is as beloved by Americans as Cuba, and we want desperately to see an end to communism on the island.''

Rangel said he has ''strong disagreements'' with Garcia on Cuba, but that the two agree that travel restrictions imposed in 2004 should be eased.

''Frankly, the greatest concern among Democrats in Congress is addressing the desperate economic, health and educational needs of Americans, and this candidate is fully qualified to make a difference,'' the congressman said.

Rangel is a champion fundraiser who shares the wealth with fellow Democrats. He has raised more than $5 million since becoming committee chairman, more than leading Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer -- who is holding a fundraiser for Garcia in Miami on Monday.

$1.4 MILLION DONATED

Rangel's campaign committee and political action committee have contributed more than $1.4 million to fellow Democrats, including $785,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which runs House races, according to CQ MoneyLine, which tracks political fundraising.

Though listed as a ''special guest'' at Garcia's New York fundraiser, neither Rangel nor his political action committee has contributed to Garcia's campaign.

He has given, without controversy, to two other Florida Democrats looking to unseat Republicans: Christine Jennings, who is challenging Rep. Vern Buchanan of Sarasota, and Suzanne Kosmas, who is challenging Rep. Tom Feeney of Oviedo.