PORTLAND, Ore. -- Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden is giving the president one-on-one advice about health care reform.

But will President Obama follow that advice?

On Wednesday, the president characterized Wyden's health care ideas as perhaps too radical for the country.

That said, the two men have a great deal in common on health care reform as they both want to drive down the cost of care while giving families more choices.

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden. (AP Photo)

But when the senator tried to convince the president to back his Healthy Americans Act, The Oregonian newspaper reports Mr. Obama saying he's in agreement with 90 percent of Wyden's thinking, however parts of the plan are too radical.

Wyden is undeterred.

"When the President of the United States says he agrees with 90 percent of what you're doing in health care, my response is you smile and say, 'Mr. President, I'm looking forward to working with you on the other ten percent."

Sen. Wyden is also trying to gain buy-in for his reform ideas from private insurers and his republican colleagues in congress.

"I certainly don't think its radical to say that every money interest should have to contribute to health care reform and I don't think it's radical to finally get some bipartisanship," said Wyden.

On the other end of the reform spectrum, protesters in downtown Portland Thursday picketed outside Wyden's office, saying his aren't radical enough.

They want a public, single-payer health care system similar to Canada's.

"A Medicare-for-all type health care system," explained protester Don Dunning. "Wyden is still resisting."

"I feel very strongly that everyone ought to have the legal guarantee to keep the coverage they have but I'd like to have more choices for them like members of Congress have," said Wyden.

Philosophically, Wyden's proposal would put health care decisions in the hands of individuals instead of employers.

But the tax code changes necessary to do are perhaps too much of a shock to the system, says President Obama.

Wyden's calls 90 percent agreement a good start.

"Let's go get that other ten percent."

The president is hoping Congress can wade through all the reform choices and get him a bill before the end of the year.

Health care reform is one of the president's highest priorities right now.