Public option hybrid:opt in and opt out

Senate Democrats could explore this idea to move the debate along:

Develop a formula that would include nearly all the "red" states:
Nebraska, Lousiania, Arkansas, etc.

States that fall within that range would start without a public option in the healthcare debate, and would have to have their state legislatures "opt in".

Whereas the rest of the country would have the exact opposite, an "opt out".

This way, any red state Democrat can credibly explain there won't be any government takeover or even an option in their state unless the state votes for it.