Susan Davis reports on politics.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin no longer will headline the annual congressional Republicans annual joint fund-raiser this June, a GOP aide said today. Instead, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will speak in her place.

The 2008 vice-presidential nominee was trumpeted as the headline speaker in a joint March 16 press release from the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, who heads the Senate campaign operation, praised her then as “one of the most popular and recognizable faces in the Republican Party.” Rep. Pete Sessions, also from Texas, who heads the House campaign operation, called her “one of the brightest rising stars in the Republican Party.”

The day after the announcement, a Palin aide said the governor was unaware of the speaking gig—an apparent miscommunication between her political team and the governor’s office—to the frustration of congressional aides.

The annual dinner is the major fund-raising event of the year for the congressional campaign committees, and would have been a good venue for the governor, who is considered—albeit by smaller circles lately—to be a 2012 presidential contender.

“After initially confirming her attendance” the governor’s team said she would be unable to attend due to responsibilities in Alaska through the end of the legislative session, the campaign committees said in a statement. “We completely understand and respect Governor Palin’s focus on her official state business.” The committees praised Gingrich as “one of our party’s brightest minds and most energetic speakers.”