W.House touts supportive Republicans on healthcare

(For coverage of U.S. healthcare reform, click on [nN20512341])

* Some leading Republicans back US healthcare reform

* Democrats seek to isolate opponents in Congress

* Major committee vote could take place in days

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - The Obama administration has adopted a new tactic in its push for healthcare reform: touting the support of Republicans outside of Washington after failing to win any backing for overhaul plans in Congress from members of the party on Capitol Hill.

Seeking to portray opponents of the legislation as isolated from mainstream America and even from prominent members of the Republican Party, the White House on Tuesday distributed a statement from Arnold Schwarzenegger, California's Republican governor, urging the passage of national healthcare reform.

On Monday, it sent out a statement by Tommy Thompson, a former Republican governor of Wisconsin and presidential candidate who was former President George W. Bush's health secretary, endorsing a plan coming through the Senate Finance Committee.

"It (the plan) moves us down the path of providing affordable high-quality health care for all and expanding coverage for millions," said Thompson's statement, issued with Richard Gephardt, a former Democratic leader in Congress.