Record foreclosures, a rising jobless rate and Miami's ever-changing mosaic of voters have altered the landscape for South Florida's three hotly contested congressional races, unexpectedly pushing Cuba to the fringes of debate.

In years past, Cuba has been a dominant issue and given the three hard-line Cuban-American Republicans an edge among like-minded, motivated voters. But with a faltering economy and increasingly diverse districts, the Cuba debate has largely receded to Spanish language radio as the candidates trade barbs on taxes, trade and fitness for office.

At the Little Havana Activities Center for seniors last week, the customary cry of ''Viva Cuba libre!'' was replaced by anxious talk about pocketbook issues.

Only former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, a Democrat challenging Republican Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, mentioned the island, and only in a nostalgic reference to a Cuban president who ended his second term a decade before the Cuban Revolution brought Fidel Castro to power.

''Cuba? Why mention Cuba? It's sad, but Cuba is a lost cause,'' said Lucas Ravelo, 83, of Little Havana. Once impassioned about overthrowing Castro, he says he's now more preoccupied with his Social Security check and the economy.

A recent poll shows Cuba but a blip, even among Cuban Americans, who cited the economy as their top worry.

''The issue that has taken over this election is the economy,'' said pollster Dario Moreno, who has surveyed voters in all three congressional races for Univision 23. ``When people are worried about losing their jobs, losing their homes, the impact of Cuba sort of diminishes.''

Lincoln Diaz-Balart's brother, Mario Diaz-Balart, is being challenged by former Miami-Dade Democratic Party chairman Joe Garcia. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen faces Pinecrest businesswoman Annette Taddeo.

`ONE TRICK PONY'

The incumbents -- who champion hard-line restrictions against Cuba and have been criticized by their rivals for being a ''one trick pony'' for their focus on the island -- have sought to broaden their portfolios, touting at campaign events the federal dollars they say they've brought back to South Florida.

''People want to hear what we'll do to get our economy back on track,'' said Lincoln Diaz-Balart, who nevertheless courted his base on Sunday, shaking hands among a group of elderly exiles at the Big Five Club in West Miami-Dade. ``They want a prescription for action.''

Democrats contend that the economic outlook, along with the district's changing demographics -- a growing number of non-Cuban Hispanics, Democratic voters and independents -- are creating new opportunities for Democrats and forcing all the players to tailor their messages.

''The independents, African Americans, non-Cuban Hispanics, Anglos, that's been our strategy all along,'' Taddeo said. ``I've got to tell you, it's mostly the media that asks about Cuba. Everyone else wants to know about the economy.''

Voter registration figures show all three districts have lost a once-formidable Republican edge. Though the contest between Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Martinez has soaked up most of the ink, Mario Diaz-Balart may be most vulnerable: The district he created for himself in 2002 is increasingly younger and less Republican. The GOP still retains the lead, but only by 3,364 voters -- a precipitous drop from 2006, when there were 21,818 more Republicans than Democrats.

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