Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has canceled her appearance at a fundraiser in Teton County on Sept. 24 to attend the general assembly of the United Nations in New York, according to state Republican officials. 

In her stead, the GOP will send Cindy McCain, wife of presidential candidate John McCain, to rally the Republicans and raise money at a breakfast event at the private Teton Pines Country Club.

“As these situations arise, I think the campaigns respond to them, and that is exactly what happened at this event,” said valley resident Maggie Scarlett, who, with husband Dick, organized the fundraiser. “Needless to say, we are disappointed Governor Palin is not coming – in that she is indeed creating a lot of energy and excitement everywhere, not just in Wyoming – but to have the opportunity to have Cindy McCain come in is equally exciting to us.”

The Scarletts found out about the change Tuesday morning. At the same time, the McCain-Palin campaign notified Wyoming Republican Party Executive Director Amy Larimer.

“The people in Wyoming are so excited to have the future first lady in the state,” Larimer said. “The buzz is just general excitement. It’s an honor for us, as well.”

All details of the event, which begins at 7:30 a.m. at Teton Pines, have remained the same, except for the guest of honor, Scarlett said.

The event, which is open to the public, has three levels of participation, Maggie Scarlett said.

For $250, participants can have breakfast with McCain. For $1,000, participants can have breakfast and have a photo taken with McCain, and, for $2,500, participants get breakfast, a photo and the chance to participate in a roundtable discussion with McCain and former Wyoming U.S. Sen. Alan Simpson, who will be joining her at the event.

The format and topics for the roundtable have not been decided, Maggie Scarlett said.

All proceeds from the event will go to McCain-Palin Victory 2008, Larimer said.

“The response has been very rewarding,” Maggie Scarlett said. “I am really not aware of the exact number [of invitations] that went out. The list I sent in comprised several hundred names, but the special thing about this event is it’s open to public.”

There is no cap on attendance at the event, Dick Scarlett said, and anyone interested in attending should contact Larimer at Wyoming Republican Party headquarters for information.

The Scarletts were unaware of any future plans for bringing Palin to the Cowboy State.

“At this time, we don’t have any expectation of getting her back,” Dick Scarlett said, “but if something broke loose we would love to have her – I think a lot of people in Wyoming would love to have her.”

Teton County is not the only stop Palin is missing. She canceled all her fundraising stops planned for the week, according to a message sent by the McCain-Palin campaign to individuals who had signed up for the event. A campaign calendar on the McCain-Palin Web site did not list any events for either candidate for the week of Sept. 22. The Wall Street Journal reports that Palin will go to the United Nations on Tuesday, when President George Bush is scheduled to address the body, while Fox News reported that Palin will attend a rally Monday protesting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s participation in the General Assembly.