WSJ: Palin Appearance at Iowa TPoA Rally ‘No Longer Confirmed’

Update: WSJ has corrected its story
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The Wall Street Journal, which earlier cited "a person close the former Alaska governor," reported that Sarah Palin has canceled her September 3 appearance at a tea party rally in Indianola, Iowa:

The person cited “continual lying” from event organizers at Tea Party of America, including a recent mixup over whether former U.S. Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell of Delaware would also speak.

Ms. Palin is known for last-minute schedule changes that whipsaw supporters and media across the country. But the latest decision is puzzling. Ms. Palin’s speech at the rally was viewed as her most high-profile appearance of the summer, fueling speculation she was indeed plotting to run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Attendees were reportedly traveling from across the U.S. to attend the rally in Iowa, which holds the nation’s first nominating contest next year.

The former governor will now appear at a Friday event in Des Moines sponsored by the group Conservatives4Palin. It is currently scheduled for 8 p.m. at The Machine Shed Restaurant, though the location will probably have to be changed, the person close to Ms. Palin said. Ms. Palin is still scheduled to appear at a Tea Party Express tour stop Monday in New Hampshire.

Ms. Palin may still hold an event Saturday, the person said, though she has no firm plans. It’s also possible she could still attend the Indianola tea party rally, the person said.

[More]

The Palin team made the decision to to back out Tuesday night after event organizers re-invited O’Donnell to speak, according to the Journal's first report. Now WSJ has revised the first two paragraphs of its original story to read:

Sarah Palin’s Saturday appearance at a tea party rally in Indianola, Iowa, is on hold, a person close the former Alaska governor told The Wall Street Journal.

The person said Ms. Palin’s appearance was “no longer confirmed” and cited “continual lying” from event organizers at Tea Party of America, including a recent mixup over whether former U.S. Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell of Delaware would also speak.

The organizers had booked O’Donnell, but had withdrawn the invitation to try to avoid controversy. Then they re-booked O’Donnell and claimed they did so on the word of Gov. Palin, but the 2008 GOP vice presidential candidate's aides say that is not true. WSJ's source also claims that the Palin camp had further issues with event organizers, including fund-raising and logistical changes that were made without the governor's approval.

Scott Conroy, via Twitter, was the first to report that the original WSJ story was "inaccurate" and that Gov. Palin has not cancelled, but rather her appearance at the event is "on hold."

- JP