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March 6 (Bloomberg) -- Hillary Clinton scored more than just three presidential primary victories this week. She also helped freeze a movement of top Democrats set to call on her to concede to rival Barack Obama.

A group of uncommitted ``superdelegates'' were ready to make a show of support for Obama by trying to pressure Clinton to give up, said Tim Roemer, a former congressman who's rounding up backers for Obama. Now, after her wins in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, many will still back Obama without calling on Clinton to quit, he said.

Obama, an Illinois senator, aimed to knock Clinton out of the race by capitalizing on an 11-contest winning streak to claim the mantle of undisputed front-runner. The 795 superdelegates -- party officials and lawmakers who aren't bound by primary results -- are critical as neither candidate is positioned to gain enough delegates through elections to win the nomination.

``Instead of being a slam dunk for Obama, it's a horse race again,'' said South Carolina Representative John Spratt. Spratt said he's undecided after Clinton's success this week, even though Obama is his ``presumptive choice'' because his constituents backed him in the state's Jan. 26 primary.

Neither campaign is letting up. Yesterday, Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams and adviser Harold Ickes waited outside the Senate chamber to huddle with Charles Schumer, a Clinton supporter who represents New York with her in the U.S. Senate. Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton, is among those making calls to superdelegates.

`Awful Lot'

The campaign has been talking to ``an awful lot'' of superdelegates in the last week, Ickes told reporters. ``Many, many of the remaining uncommitted delegates are waiting.''

The Obama team is emphasizing its lead in pledged delegates, with campaign manager David Plouffe telling supporters that Clinton, 60, only gained a net four with her victories in the three states. Obama, 46, won in Vermont.

Obama has 1,355 delegates and Clinton has 1,213, according to NBC News. A candidate needs 2,025 to win.

The latest results make it harder for superdelegates to make a move to Obama, even his supporters say. ``She has bought some time with some delegates undoubtedly,'' said Alabama Representative Artur Davis, an Obama backer. Even so, he said, ``the nature of this race has not fundamentally changed.''

`Kitchen Sink'

The superdelegates set to press for Clinton's concession faced a changed environment after she went on the attack against Obama, Roemer said. Her assaults on trade and national security issues helped turn the tide, analysts said.

``When you get the kitchen sink and garbage disposal thrown at you, some things can change,'' Roemer said. ``We feel very confident going forward.''

Many of the more than two-dozen superdelegates interviewed said they are following the voters.

``I want the people to make the decision,'' said Representative Jim McDermott, whose district in Washington backed Obama. ``We have two good candidates who cannot lose.''

Party leaders, including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, said they are staying neutral.

Convention

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters she has confidence in the superdelegates. ``They will make the decision that is necessary, before we go to the convention, to a place where Democrats are unified,'' she said.

Others aren't so sure. Virginia Representative Rick Boucher, who's backing Obama, said he's concerned that a long battle will help Republican nominee John McCain. ``This needs to be resolved very quickly,'' Boucher said. Superdelegates ``should be influenced by who has the most pledged delegate votes.''

The Clinton team is making the same argument on another front, trying to get delegates from Florida and Michigan counted. After the states moved up their primaries, the Democratic National Committee said their delegates wouldn't be seated at the convention, and all the candidates agreed not to campaign in them.

Clinton was the only Democrat to keep her name on the ballot in Michigan and won what was considered a ``beauty contest'' on Jan. 15. She also won the Jan. 29 Florida primary.

Redoubled Efforts

Politicians in both states are now redoubling efforts to have their votes counted. The congressional delegations were scheduled to meet last night for talks, and officials from the state party organizations say they have been meeting with the two campaigns and national party representatives.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist, a Republican, and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, put out a joint statement calling the situation ``intolerable.'' State party officials say they don't have the money to run new contests.

DNC Chairman Howard Dean said the states could submit proposals to hold new contests before the convention, either a primary or a caucus.

``I hope they will,'' he said this morning on MSNBC.

He repeated statements he made yesterday that the party won't consider simply setting aside the penalties imposed on those states for holding early primaries and recognizing the results of the votes.

Can't Change Rules

``What we can't do is change the rules in the middle of the game,'' he said. ``Both the campaigns knew what the rules were, and to change them in the middle of the game disadvantages or advantages particular candidates.''

He said the DNC isn't prepared to pay for a re-vote.

Dean isn't handling the issue properly and should lose his job if he can't prevent a situation in which the nomination is decided by superdelegates, said Lionell Spruill, a superdelegate who serves in the Virginia House of Delegates and backs Clinton.

``If the superdelegates have to play a part at the convention, it would be bad for us in November,'' Spruill said.

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