WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois visited the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

The visit created much excitement among Democratic lawmakers given his victory in the North Carolina primary and his lead in pledged delegates to secure the Democratic presidential nomination.

Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, shook hands and said hello to Obama, and Rep. Michael Michaud, D-Maine, thanked Obama for participating in a conference call last month to discuss his positions on trade policy.

Rep. Robert Brady, a Democrat from Philadelphia who is also the city’s Democratic Party chairman, said Obama called him as Brady was driving to Washington, D.C., from Philadelphia this morning. When Obama told Brady he would be in his Senate office, Brady suggested he visit the House floor.

Obama, who is headed to Oregon later today, took Brady’s advice. While he appeared on the House floor, Obama did not vote on an amendment to a flood insurance bill pending in the Senate.