CRITICAL CONDITION: What's next for health care?

TAMPA, FL -- With chants like "Stop big government" and "Stop Obamacare,"  20 members of the conservative 9-12 Project gathered in protest of Democratic health care reform.

They chose to protest in Ybor City Monday because that is where they would find Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL). He was just across the street, inside having meeting with the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

"We don't believe in this health care bill, we don't believe government should be running it," says protester Lori Fried.

"I already have voted for the health reform bill in the finance committee and if it's close to that, I expect I will be supporting it," Senator Nelson told Reporter Kerry Kavanaugh.

Nelson says since the summer he's heard from more than 75,000 people via phone, email and letters.

"People want health insurance and they want it so they can afford it," he says. "We've got to get the cost analysis. Remember the Senate bill is going to be a lot different than the House bill."

The two bills have several key differences:

-The House bill requires employers to offer coverage to employees. The Senate Finance Committee bill does not.

-The House bill taxes the wealthy. The Senate Bill taxes high cost insurance plans, insurance companies and drug makers.

-The House bill has a public option. The Senate is only considering one that would include a state's right to opt out.

Senate Republicans have said the House bill will be dead on arrival. Florida's newly appointed Republican Senator George LeMieux put out a statement which says in part,  "we should reform the programs we already have instead of creating new programs that will funnel health care through the bureaucracy of government."

Nelson says he's prepared for what he calls the "high drama" of the next several weeks, both on the streets and in Washington. But, he's positive about the outcome.

"On final passage I think it will be far beyond 60 votes," Nelson says.

The Democrats need 60 votes in the House to pass health care reform. By suggesting they’ll have more than that, Nelson is suggesting a lot of bi-partisan support for the bill.

President Obama has signaled he wants to see the Senate take action on a bill before Thanksgiving.