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WASHINGTON (AP) -- Conservative Democrats who've been a thorn in the side of liberal party leaders could grow into a major obstacle to Barack Obama's agenda if he is elected president.

Majority Democrats are positioned for big gains in next week's congressional election. But many of the new faces would join a growing chorus of "Blue Dogs" who often part from the party base on big issues like taxes and increasing federal spending.

That could set up a roadblock for Obama, who has promised to broaden health insurance coverage, start a new round of public works projects and improve early childhood education, among other things -- all initiatives that would require substantial government spending at a time of soaring deficits.

The 49 House Blue Dogs -- about one in every four House Democrats -- could grow by as many as 10 in Tuesday's election with wins in mainly Southern, conservative-leaning districts. Overall, Democrats are expected to pick up 20 or more House seats.

New Blue Dog faces in the House could include Montgomery Mayor Bobby Bright in Alabama, county prosecutor Frank M. Kratovil Jr. on Maryland's conservative Eastern Shore, and Elwyn Tinklenberg north of Minneapolis-St. Paul. All have shots at capturing seats currently held by Republicans.

But the Blue Dogs also are making a bid to expand to the Senate. This week they endorsed the Senate bid of former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner -- who was already heavily favored to win his race against former Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore -- in what they hope will be a big step toward strengthening their ability to stop initiatives that aren't paired with spending cuts or tax increases.

The move reflects exasperation with their own party's failure to rein in deficit spending, especially in the Senate where attempts to do so have been met with Republican filibusters.

"It's been a very productive and frustrating two years in the Democratic majority for the Blue Dogs," said Rep. Mike Ross of Arkansas, the head of the coalition. "Out of frustration, we've decided that we need to also get involved in Senate races."

For now, the group's endorsement means Warner gets their seal of approval and a $5,000 donation.

The term Blue Dog has its roots in the 1920s, when the moniker "yellow dog Democrat" was used to described party loyalists in the South who, it was said, would vote for a yellow dog if it ran on the Democratic ticket. Right-of-center Democrats who said they were being "choked blue" by their party's liberal flank adopted the current name after Republicans swept control of the House in 1994.

The Blue Dogs' foray across the Capitol could add to their influence, particularly if Democrats capture the six or more Senate seats that many independent analysts and strategists believe are within their reach.

For example, Warner and North Carolina's Kay Hagan, the state senator trying to topple GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole, would join other centrist Democrats -- including Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Max Baucus of Montana -- in the Senate.

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