“Barack Obama has won key swing states that Democrats need to win in November like Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota and Virginia — many by very wide margins,” stated an Obama campaign memorandum obtained by The Hill. “In fact, he won neighboring Virginia by 29 points.”

Obama allies have also argued that he is more popular than Clinton among independent voters.

Clinton has performed better in a swath of House districts that voted for President Bush. She is pressing that record with superdelegates from conservative districts, especially freshman Democrats facing tough races.

Clinton has circulated a PowerPoint presentation among lawmakers titled “Winning in the Tough Districts.” It highlights that she won 16 of 20 districts that voted for Bush and are now represented by first-term Democrats.

Many Democratic lawmakers believe winning in these districts will be necessary to protect or expand their majority in Congress.

Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.), who is helping Clinton recruit support in the House, said her record in Republican-inclined districts should attract vulnerable freshmen and conservative Democrats in the Blue Dog Coalition.

“She’s done well in rural districts, and that makes you think these Blue Dogs would be a natural fit,” said Berry, who represents a district Bush won in 2004.

Clinton won the districts represented by freshman Democrats Space, Gabrielle Giffords (Ariz.), Jerry McNerney (Calif.), Tim Mahoney (Fla.) and Nick Lampson (Texas), who are all uncommitted superdelegates.

Several freshman superdelegates from Republican-leaning districts recently declared their support for Clinton: Reps. Chris Carney (D-Pa.), Heath Shuler (D-N.C.) and Ciro Rodriguez (D-Texas).

Obama has picked up more superdelegates than Clinton in recent days. A tally kept by The Hill shows that he has received endorsements from 106 members of Congress to Clinton’s 100.

But Clinton has forestalled a superdelegate stampede to Obama.