WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama and top aides have quietly stepped up talks with moderate Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine on a scaled-back health care bill, according to two sources familiar with the negotiations. Sen. Olympia Snowe is part of the bipartisan so-called "Gang of Six" negotiating on health care. The compromise plan would lack a government-run public health insurance option favored by Obama, but would leave the door open to adding that provision down the road under an idea proposed by Snowe, the sources said. One of the sources said White House officials are "deep in conversations" with Snowe on a much smaller health care bill than Obama originally envisioned.
@highlight
Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe's plan doesn't include public care option
@highlight
But public option is triggered if private companies don't offer reforms
@highlight
Snowe is considered last possibility for Democrats to get some GOP backing
The source told CNN that the White House staffers increased their phone calls to @placeholder aides and their interest in her trigger idea this week.
Obama and @placeholder leaders seek a solution that could win support from a Republican or two, and more importantly, help bridge a divide among Democrats on the public option issue.