October 26, 2009 Maine Sen. Snowe wavers after public option added to Senate health bill Play video

(NECN: Washington, DC) - A disappointed Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe said she would continue to work with centrists to shape the Senate health reform bill - but stood by her opposition to the public option included in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's bill today. "I'll continue to (collaborate with Democratic centrists) and anyone else who wants to reach across the aisle," Snowe told reporters at the Capitol today.

But Snowe noted that while Sen. Reid mentioned her concept of a 'trigger' for the public option, she wouldn't be swayed to a full government health option - calling it a "fundamental" of her position.

Snowe acknowledged that Democrats have the 60 votes they need to get a bill through the Senate, but said that a bill with at least a small amount of Republican support would be looked upon much more favorably. "You have to sort of build those bridges across the political aisle," Snowe said.