DENVER -- Three Florida congressional candidates took center stage at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday night, signaling the party's belief that the state will be a major battleground in the party's bid to increase its majority in Congress.

Miami Democrats Raul Martinez and Joe Garcia and Sarasota's Christine Jennings shared the stage with five other candidates and Rep. Chris Van Hollen, the Maryland Democrat who chairs the national party charged with increasing the number of congressional Democrats.

''President Obama can't do it alone,'' Van Hollen said, arguing that Republicans in Congress have stymied Democratic efforts to expand healthcare and end the war in Iraq. ``For the change we need, we not only need to elect Barack Obama as our next president, we need to give him a robust Democratic majority in Congress.''

None of the eight were given speaking roles, but Van Hollen singled them out for public recognition, a move that slowed the proceedings considerably when the Florida delegation, from its front-row perch on the convention floor, erupted with sustained cheers and applause.

Van Hollen said Garcia, who is challenging Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, was ``leading an incredible grass-roots campaign.''

Van Hollen introduced Martinez, who is taking on Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, as a ''proven leader and the beloved mayor of Hialeah'' and called Jennings, running against Rep. Vern Buchanan, ``a bank teller who worked her way up to president, a pioneering businesswoman and community leader.''

Democrats said the inclusion of the three Florida Democrats is proof that the party will invest in the races. All three have already been tagged for the party's Red to Blue program, which means they'll receive fundraising help and technical campaign support from the national party. The party has already reserved $1.4 million worth of TV air time in the Miami market to run ads this fall against the incumbents.

''This shows the commitment that the Democratic majority has made in Florida is real,'' said Garcia, who arrived in Denver Tuesday and made the rounds, shaking hands at a Latino Leaders Network reception near the convention center. He was to introduce New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson at an event.

''I've been sending you money, every time I get an e-mail,'' Arturo Valenzuela, a Georgetown University professor told Garcia.

Democrats, who picked up two congressional seats in Florida in 2006, are eyeing at least five seats in Florida, including two seats in the Orlando area. They also believe they've got their best chance in years to unseat one of Miami's Cuban American members of Congress.

Also making the rounds in Denver: Annette Taddeo, who is seeking to unseat Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. She'll speak Wednesday at the Florida delegation's breakfast. The national party considers Taddeo's campaign an ''emerging race,'' which could qualify for the Red to Blue program. Like Garcia and Martinez, she's kept pace in fundraising with the incumbents, although she has loaned her campaign money.

The high-profile exposure comes as the races heat up. Mario Diaz-Balart on Monday began airing his first TV ads and Carlos Curbelo, a spokesman for the two brothers, dismissed the national party's interest in the races.

''It's clear that they can't stand on their own,'' Curbelo said, noting a new political organization has recently surfaced to target the two Republicans.

He suggested the congressional candidates won't get much traction, noting that Obama has spent millions in Florida and that a recent poll shows no lift.

''The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is welcome to waste their resources down here,'' Curbelo said.

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