Democrats seek political advantage from healthcare

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats are mounting an aggressive effort to gain political credit for passage of the U.S. healthcare overhaul and put Republicans on the defensive ahead of November elections.

A $5 million TV and radio advertising campaign is being waged by several groups that back President Barack Obama in some 35 congressional districts to thank lawmakers who voted for the healthcare bill and target Republicans who opposed it.

The goal is to provide political cover to those Democrats facing opposition in their home districts, such as Virginia Representative Tom Perriello, and slam Republicans in swing districts who opposed it, like Delaware Senate candidate Mike Castle.

More broadly, Democrats are using the historic vote on Sunday in the U.S. House of Representatives to try to raise money for Democratic congressional candidates.

Vice President Joe Biden signed one such appeal from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. In it, Biden accused Republicans, who were united in their opposition to the healthcare plan, of wanting to "exact a political price for our success."

"Their plan is this: Use the midterm elections to strengthen their numbers, weaken Democrats, repeal health care reform and destroy President Obama. And they are more than willing to lie to do it," Biden said.

In Pennsylvania, for example, Joe Sestak, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, criticized Republican candidate Pat Toomey for opposing the legislation. "He is against ending the worst abuses of the insurance industry," Sestak said.

SALES PITCH

The developments reflected a coordinated Democratic strategy to try to gain maximum advantage from the passage of healthcare and limit predicted losses in November elections in which all 435 House seats are up for grabs and more than a third of the 100-member Senate.

At the same time, Obama and his allies are seeking to turn around public opinion about the healthcare plan with a simplified message emphasizing popular benefits of the package, like allowing parents to keep children on their health plans until age 26.

The effort seems to be paying off but has a ways to go. A CBS News poll found approval of the bill had risen to 42 percent from 37 percent before Sunday's vote, while disapproval fell to 46 percent from 48 percent. A Gallup poll said 49 percent approved of the plan with 40 percent opposed.

Obama is to continue his sales pitch with a speech on Thursday in Iowa City, Iowa.

Democrats hold strong majorities in both chambers but the party in power in the White House usually loses seats in the first election after a new president takes office.

Republicans are launching a furious attempt of their own to raise questions about the costs and scope of the healthcare plan in what is likely to be a major issue in the elections.

"One of the most perplexing things about this healthcare bill is the determination of the White House and the Democratic majority to shove this down the throat of the American people even though they've made it clear they don't support this bill," said Republican Senator John Cornyn.

And the party is appealing to Republican supporters to donate cash to help the party's candidates win seats in November.

"Republican, we need your support to make a major statement right now. Help fire Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the U.S. House and replace her with Republican leadership who will work for you and your family -- not the liberal special interest groups," Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele wrote in a fund-raising appeal.

(Editing by Eric Beech)