Many Democratic senators would vote against a Senate health bill lacking a strong public option, Sen. Bernie Sanders said Monday during an interview on MSNBC, adding that he's "very, very reluctant to support any legislation which does not have that." On CNN, he said it would be “very, very hard” to support a bill that was “a massive bonanza for private insurance companies.” Sanders told the Ed Schultz radio show that White House backing for a public option is critical. “We need them in there with guns blazing.” Sanders made the case for a strong public option after announcing on Sunday that he believes a number of senators would not support final passage of health care legislation without it.  “The overwhelming majority of Americans want to be able to choose between a strong public option and a private insurance plan.  Without that competition, there is very little in this bill that would keep health insurance premiums from escalating rapidly,” Sanders said.

"This country faces a major health care crisis,” he added. “ With 46 million Americans uninsured, 45,000 dying each year because they don't get to a doctor when they should, almost 1 million going bankrupt because of medically-related bills and health costs scheduled to double within eight years, it is imperative that we pass strong health care legislation that will address these issues.

“It is tragic that the disintegration of our health care system was virtually ignored by Bush during his eight years, while the congressional Republicans today are playing an obstructionist role by filibustering every piece of major legislation.

“It is my intention to do everything I can to see that a strong bill is passed which provides universal coverage in a cost-effective way. 

“This is going to be a very difficult, complicated and contentious process which I hope and believe will, in the final analysis, succeed."

To take our latest poll on health care, click here.