Opinion: Sarah Palin may be in, but Hillary Clinton definitely out of anti-Ahmadinejad rally

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Hillary Clinton has nixed the possibility of crossing paths with Sarah Palin, canceling her planned participation Monday at a rally protesting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the U.N. after learning that the Republican vice presidential nominee also had been invited.

Palin’s attendance ‘was news to us, and this was never billed to us as a partisan political event,’ Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines said. As he result, he added, his boss ‘will therefore not be attending.’

The rally, organized by several American Jewish groups, is to take place outside the U.N.; Ahmadinejad will be in town for a meeting of the organization’s General Assembly.

Palin has tentatively agreed to come, although her schedule has yet to be set in stone.

[UPDATE: Tracey Schmitt, a McCain spokeswoman, responded to the Clinton cancellation: ‘Gov. Palin believes the danger of a nuclear Iran is greater than party or politics. She hopes that all parties can rally together in opposition to this grave threat.’]

-- Don Frederick