Days after nearly losing a general election contest to Republican Scott Milne — who has yet to concede — a conciliatory Gov. Peter Shumlin took to the airwaves on Vermont Public Radio.

Shumlin told Vermont Edition’s Bob Kinzel that he was proud to have received more votes than his opponent, but acknowledged the voter dissatisfaction that kept him from an outright victory. Shumlin holds a 2,095-vote advantage with all precincts reporting, according to an Associated Press tally. Milne has said he will wait for the results to be certified, and has left open the option of seeking a recount.

Shumlin pledged to keep working hard to address the “pocketbook issues” that caused many to look for a change in leadership. His message was one of inclusivity, using the word numerous times to describe how his push to reform health care and education financing must address the concerns of Vermonters who have yet to feel the balm of an economic recovery.

He said it’s possible that he has gotten “too far in front of the troops” when it comes to health care reform, but added that a publicly financed universal system would drive job growth and prosperity and is still in the state’s best interest.

The current employer-based premium system is “broken,” he said, and — alongside rising education spending — is one of the primary reasons Vermonters are economically insecure.

He avoided using the term “single-payer” to describe the reforms he will pursue, which he said are aimed at lowering the growth of medical spending and making health coverage a right, not a privilege.

“When you can’t tell people how exactly it’s going to work you get more fear than hope,” he said.

He said again that he hasn’t presented a financing plan for the next stage of health care reform because it’s not ready. His opponents accused him of holding off until after the election for political reasons. He said he will present a financing plan in January and expects to move forward with reforms.

Callers to Vermont Edition, many of whom said they are longtime Democrats — and several who said they voted for Shumlin in 2012 — were direct with the governor in saying that he had lost their support.

Their reasons included his backing of the Vermont Gas pipeline, the troubled Vermont Health Connect insurance exchange and just a general loss of confidence in his leadership.

The governor was contrite and took his knocks, but also defended his positions and record on energy and the economy.

The governor acknowledged he has to rebuild his standing with constituents, and getting Vermont Health Connect working is a large and vexing piece of that, he said.

As to whether it would run smoothly during the upcoming open enrollment period, which begins Nov. 15, the governor said only that he was “hopeful” it would.

On whether his opponent should pursue a recount, Shumlin said that was decision for Milne to make on his own.

But Shumlin did suggest that Milne should respect his plurality in the popular vote and not campaign for the Legislature to unseat him.