Congressional Republicans are replacing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the headliner of their big spring fundraising dinner with former Speaker Newt Gingrich after the party's former vice presidential candidate vacillated publicly about the appearance, sources familiar said Tuesday.
Gingrich, still incredibly popular with the conservative base, will be the keynote speaker at the annual Senate-House GOP dinner, which will be held on June 8 at the Washington Convention Center, hosted by National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (R-Texas).
Palin's withdrawal is the latest stumble after a series of miscommunications between her Washington-based political action committee and her governor's office in Alaska.
In fact, Palin was never completely confirmed as a speaker.
The NRSC and the NRCC were under the distinct impression that Palin would headline the annual Republican House-Senate fundraising dinner in June. The committees went so far as to issue a joint press release trumpeting her appearance and national news outlets quickly noted her prime speaking engagement. But the governor's office later said that it had not put the event on the schedule.
