Does Palin want fee for Iowa speech?

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, invited to address a conservative group in Iowa next month, has reportedly made an unusual demand -- a fee.

The Iowa Family Policy Center refused to confirm whether Palin had asked for payment to speak Nov. 21, Politico reported. A spokesman first said he thought the money the group is trying to raise -- $100,000 -- was for other expenses for the event and then said he did not know.

Other Republicans in Iowa, where the state nominating caucuses kick off the presidential season every four years, say they would not pay a potential presidential candidate to speak.

"If somebody tells me they want me to pay an appearance fee, it tells me they're not very serious about running for president," Ed Failor, Jr., president of Iowans for Tax Relief, told Politico. "I found it really, really odd."

If Palin did show up, she would be speaking the same night as Vice President Joe Biden, who is headlining the Iowa Democratic Party Jefferson-Jackson Dinner, and making her first trip to the state since last year's campaign.

"This is one of more than a thousand requests for the governor's time," Stapleton said.