Iowa tea party organizer: ‘It would hurt’ Palin to ditch event

An organizer of a much-publicized tea party rally in Iowa this weekend says Sarah Palin would not be doing herself any favors if she drops out of the event.

“I hope that isn’t so … It would hurt her more than hurt us,” event organizer Ken Crow, the co-founder and president of the Tea Party of America, told TheDC.

Scott Conroy, a reporter who covers Palin for Real Clear Politics, tweeted Wednesday that, “Palin’s participation in Saturday’s Tea Party of America rally is ‘on hold,’ 2 sources close to Palin tell RCP.”

The Wall Street Journal cited a person close to Palin as saying the former governor is “no longer confirmed,” citing “continual lying” from event organizers.

Tim Crawford, a spokesman for Palin, didn’t immediately return a request for comment.

Crow on Wednesday morning said he had not heard anything about Palin not participating in the event.

Many have speculated that Palin could use the event to make an announcement regarding her presidential ambitions.

But the event in recent days has seen some drama, as Christine O’Donnell, the former U.S. Senate candidate from Delaware, was invited, disinvited and then re-invited to the event to speak before Palin.

The Wall Street Journal source noted the confusion with O’Donnell as another reason Palin may drop out of the event.

UPDATE: The Des Moines Register now reports that O’Donnell has been told — again — she’s uninvited, and Palin is now back on board as a speaker.