By Kevin Diaz

If anything is clear in politics, it's that politicians don't like to get pinned down to simple yes or no formulations. So cue up Thursday's PR rumpus when House Republicans got wind of Howard Dean's web site, www.standwithdrdean.com, which purports to show 218 yes votes in the U.S. House for a public option. The tally is allegedly based on calls to House members' offices and a review of their public statements. Counted as a definite yes vote was Minnesota Democrat Tim Walz, who has stayed firmly on the fence on this one. "Tim Walz Announces Support for Government Health Care Takeover," barked the headline in a press release from the National Republican Congressional Committee. The Minnesota GOP followed suit. Clearly the Republicans sense blood here. Walz's district, home to the Mayo Clinic, is hardly a liberal hotbed. Apparently, this prompted enough calls from reporters for Walz's office to issue a quick clarification. "Congressman Walz has been clear that he is interested in creating more competition in health insurance for Americans, whether that be in the form of a public option or not…" began a statement from Walz communications director Meredith Salsbery. Is that a yes or a no? I guess we'll know soon enough.But a review from the booth indicates it's a strong leaning yes. Walz has made his support for a public option contingent on fixing regional disparities in Medicare reimbursement rates that harm Minnesota. Later today, House Democrats are announcing that they've solidified language doing just that. If a public option is included in the final bill, his office said today, he now feels he can support it. Then again, he hasn't seen the bill yet, and he will not take a position until he does…