DES MOINES -- Sen. Tom Harkin won't say he will vote against any health care reform legislation that doesn't include a public option, but he thinks government-backed competition to private insurance has deep support in Congress.

"I'm very much for a public option," Harkin said.

"It's like this I want to get a good health-care reform bill ¦ but I'm not going to say if one thing in missing I'm going to vote against the whole thing," Harkin said in a conference call Thursday.

He pointed out two House committees and the Senate Health Committee have reported out bills that include a public option. Action on reform is waiting on the Senate Finance Committee, which reportedly is near a bipartisan deal.

"It seems to me the bulk of the support here is for a public option, and I think that's what will be in final bill," Harkin said.