DENVER — Delegates from states long ignored by Democrats say they are feeling energized over Sen. Barack Obama’s push to move them from the GOP column.

Obama (D-Ill.) has opened more offices than recent Democratic presidential candidates in states that haven’t voted against a Republican presidential candidate since 1964. He also has volunteers in states like Montana and North Dakota going door to door to bring supporters to the polls.

The strategy was aimed at courting Democrats nationwide, but garnered criticism from Democrats who fear that it would waste too much money in states where they have no chance of winning.

The positive side is that Democrats in states seen as firmly red in recent years no longer feel neglected for the first time in decades.

“Obama has more offices in the state than the last four [Democratic] presidential candidates had,” said John Day, an Indiana state House member and delegate. He said it has had a “positive effect” in a state where Lyndon Johnson was the last successful Democratic presidential candidate.

Some Democrats worry Obama may be shifting from his strategy and could lose an advantage they say he had built during the primary season. They point to his decision to suspend ads from Alaska, Indiana, Georgia, North Carolina, Montana and North Dakota during the convention.

The Obama campaign has said this does not signal a shift in strategy. They simply think the Democratic National Convention will bring enough attention to Obama this week.

Kathleen Driscoll, a county commissioner and delegate from Hamilton, Mont., predicts a close race in her state, which also hasn’t voted for a Democrat since LBJ.

Obama on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to a Montana family — the fifth time he has visited the state. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), by comparison, has yet to travel to Montana.

Alaska was passed over by Democrats in previous elections, said John Davies, a national committeeman and superdelegate from the state. He notes that Obama now has four campaign offices open in the vast state.

“There are tens of people working every single day” on Obama’s behalf, said Davies.

Not surprisingly, Republicans show no worries about losing these states.

“We are confident that as Americans learn more about Obama’s opposition to energy exploration, gun rights and tax relief, states that have voted Republican in the past will reject Barack Obama,” said Alex Conant, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee (RNC).

Conant also said Obama’s comments during the primary campaign about “bitter” Americans clinging to guns and religion would hurt him in traditional GOP states.

Recent polls show McCain ahead of Obama in Montana, North Dakota, Alaska and Indiana, but indicate a close race. For example, McCain is only three percentage points ahead of Obama in North Dakota, according to an average of polls by Real Clear Politics. President Bush won the solidly Republican state, which voted against Franklin Roosevelt in 1940 and 1944, with 63 percent of the vote in 2004.

McCain is 5.3 percentage points ahead in Montana, according to the Real Clear Politics average. Bush won that state in 2004 with 59 percent of the vote, but it has a Democratic governor and tossed out a sitting GOP senator in 2006.

Even if Obama loses the states, his organization there could force McCain and the RNC to spend money, broadening the playing field between the two candidates.

Day said voters in Indiana are still taking a “wait-and-see” approach to the election. Current economic plight and the two wars could have a strong impact even on those who voted Republican in the past, he said.