While Barack Obama greets foreign dignitaries and visits U.S. troops abroad, his campaign manager stopped to talk domestic politics back on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

David Plouffe told the House Democratic Caucus that they "expect the campaign to be competitive in states where they haven't been in the past," according to one Democratic congressman who was there.

Recent polls show Obama beating McCain in western states like Colorado and New Mexico, and House Democrats said they saw promise for Obama in Rocky Mountain territory.

Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., another member of the caucus who attended the meeting with Plouffe, said she was "extremely excited to see Montana on the list."

"The western United States is gradually turning blue," DeGette said.

Democratic Rep. Lincoln Davis, who represents a conservative district in middle Tennessee, told FOX News that "the Democratic brand is doing a lot better. In the South, we've been picking up seats. They don't have to fear us anymore."

John McCain has a daunting lead in the deep South. But in Virginia, an average of polls by RealClearPolitics shows Obama up by 1 point. In the critical swing state of Florida, the two are tied.

FOX News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report.