Despite Sen. Barack Obama’s (D-Ill.) promises, many Democratic congressional candidates in conservative districts remain unconvinced that he can redraw the general election map by competing in red states.

While Obama is popular among some challengers seeking an edge in contested primaries, other non-incumbents have shied away from endorsing him. Most are staying out of the fray, endorsing neither Obama nor Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.).

Most of the free agents who have chosen sides face difficult primaries and have picked Obama, suggesting they see his appeal as a boon in Democratic contests but not necessarily in the general election.

The situation is unusual because of how late in the cycle the nominating contest has endured and how early many races have taken shape. This has given more candidates the opportunity to offer endorsements that could affect the senators’ presidential hopes and their own congressional campaigns.

But few have taken the bait.

“It’s not as if my viewpoints ideologically align neatly with any one candidate,” said Ohio state Rep. Steve Driehaus, who is challenging Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio). “I think they all bring value to the table. We’re going to work with whomever the nominee is, but we’re focused on winning this congressional seat.”

Driehaus was unopposed in his primary March 4 — the same day as Clinton’s big win in Ohio — and he is competing for a historically GOP-leaning Cincinnati district that has inched toward the Democrats in recent years. He admitted he has a preference in the race but questioned the importance of his endorsement.

North Carolina Senate candidate Jim Neal took a different tack Tuesday, announcing his support for Obama in his state’s May 6 primary.

Neal faces an uphill battle that day against state Sen. Kay Hagan, the Democratic establishment’s choice to run against Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R).

“Barack Obama has reached across lines of race, gender, age and party affiliation — all the categories that have divided our country for too long,” Neal said.

Most of the seats Democrats are targeting this cycle are, as in the cases of Chabot and Neal, in GOP-leaning districts and states, making the crossover appeal of the top of the ticket particularly important. Without such appeal, Democrats will be relying on ticket-splitting.

But Hagan won’t be choosing sides early.

“I think it’s exciting for everybody in North Carolina that our state is in play in the presidential race,” she said. “Once the nominee is chosen, I will be, first and foremost, hand-in-hand with that nominee.”

Similarly, North Carolina congressional candidate Larry Kissell, who has a clear primary path to face Rep. Robin Hayes (R) for the second straight cycle, is staying neutral. He initially supported the former Tar Heel State Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), but he won’t make a second endorsement.