Palin stop in Iowa? Aide says it's unlikely

One of Iowa's leading social conservative groups remains hopeful former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will headline its annual meeting next month, but a Palin aide called such a visit "incredibly difficult."

The Iowa Family Policy Council asked Palin to speak at the Nov. 21 event and has booked a Des Moines arena in anticipation of a big turnout. But Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton didn't sound optimistic, noting more than 1,000 groups are seeking the former governor's time and that she needed to tour to promote an upcoming memoir, "Going Rogue."

The Iowa group has significant clout among potential Republican presidential candidates because social and religious conservatives dominate GOP politics in the state, where caucuses begin the nominating process.