DENVER -- She's been overshadowed by the big dogs in news stories and onstage at the Democratic National Convention, but South Florida congressional candidate Annette Taddeo is undeterred.

Given a brief chance to introduce herself to Florida Democrats at a breakfast here Wednesday -- a day after fellow candidates Joe Garcia and Raul Martinez appeared before the entire convention -- Taddeo seized the moment, taking to the stage in the delegate hotel to outline her candidacy against Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

''And I'm going to beat Ileana,'' she concluded.

Though even a friendly Democratic pollster says Taddeo is a long shot to topple the Miami Republican, Taddeo said in a post-breakfast interview that she did not get into the race without believing it was ``doable.

''I'm not saying it's going to be easy, but it's very winnable,'' she said, suggesting her candidacy is likely to benefit from GOP malaise and President Bush's record low popularity ratings.

Her campaign does not miss an opportunity to tie Ros-Lehtinen to President Bush, prompting Ros-Lehtinen in June to send out two press releases detailing instances where she has broken with the administration.

''I tell people I'm already doing my job,'' Taddeo said, laughing.

''Some people say my opponent is a moderate, but you're not a moderate when you support President Bush 100 percent on the war in Iraq,'' Taddeo told the crowd.

Ros-Lehtinen's campaign responded by pointing to a press release that touts the congresswoman's success at bringing home federal dollars to the district, saying it was due to her ``strong bi-partisan relationship with fellow members of the House.''

HEALTH PROGRAM

A businesswoman and founder of LanguageSpeak, a translation service, Taddeo said anger at Ros-Lehtinen's refusal to back expansion of a children's health program prompted her to run. But she said she first asked for proof she could win.

'I said, `Show me the numbers,' '' she said. ``It's like setting up a business plan.''

She said an independent poll suggested an opening and that her own polls show President Bush with a dismal 25 percent approval rating in the district. Plus, Taddeo noted, Ros-Lehtinen has never faced a significant challenger, but candidates without money have pulled between 38 and 40 percent of the vote.

Taddeo, who spent two days in Denver, said she has met with donors and Hispanic groups who are supporting her campaign.

But Taddeo, who has loaned herself $350,000 for the campaign, has not made the cut for the national party's Red to Blue program, which gives financial aid and campaign support to promising candidates. She is listed instead as an ''emerging race,'' and has picked up endorsements from groups including EMILY'S List. She has also proved popular among netroots activists who champion her cause.

TOUGH OPPONENT

But some Miami Democrats acknowledged privately Wednesday that Taddeo, who they say is running a smart race, is up against a popular and formidable opponent.

''She's got a shot, but she's got a challenger who knows who to work her constituency and get out the vote,'' said Cindy Lerner, a Miami-Dade Democratic state committeewoman. ``It's going to be up to us to get out the voters.''

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