Conrad moves towards public option

Progress on the public option front: The Huffington Post's Ryan Grim reports Kent Conrad is now saying he's open to supporting at least some elements of a public health insurance plan option.

Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) moved sharply toward public health care Monday, saying that he could "absolutely" support major parts of Sen. Chuck Schumer's compromise proposal for a public option after closed-door negotiations.

Conrad has backed a health care co-op proposal that advocates of a public option have thoroughly rejected. Schumer (D-N.Y.) took their side on Sunday in comments made to the Associated Press. "I don't think I could say with a straight face that this [co-op proposal] is at all close to a nationwide public option," Schumer said. "Right now, this co-op idea doesn't come close to satisfying anyone who wants a public plan."

Conrad has spent the better part of two weeks working against the public option. Hopefully, his change in direction is an indication that he understands that the public option is overwhelmingly popular -- even with Republicans, at least at the grassroots level.