Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo has pulled out of Saturday's Republican presidential forums in Casper and Riverton.

His campaign confirmed the cancellation late Wednesday night in a telephone message, said Cat Urbigkit, a state Republican Central Committee member from Pinedale.

"It's quite disappointing," Urbigkit said Thursday. "But we are still pretty excited about the candidates who are going to be here."

Actor and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson confirmed Thursday that he will attend the forum at Casper College, which may be his first public appearance with other GOP candidates.

Thompson will not attend a second forum at Central Wyoming College in Riverton. The Riverton audience will hear his taped comments from the Casper event.

Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback and California Rep. Duncan Hunter are scheduled to appear at both forums.

Brownback and Hunter will also take part in a $60-a-plate ($100 for couples) fundraiser for the anti-abortion Wyoming Family Coalition in Casper Friday night, said Maureen Emrich, the group's vice chairwoman.

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas pulled out of the Casper and Riverton forums earlier this week.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee declined invitations to participate.

One of Romney's sons will attend the forum, although he will not be allowed to speak, said Fred Parady, chairman of the state Republican Party.

Wyoming's congressional delegates have been invited to speak at the Riverton forum, and Sen. John Barrasso has indicated he will attend, forum coordinator Perry Marple said.

The first forum will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at Casper College's Erickson Thunderbird Gym. The second event with the same format will be at 5 p.m. the same day at Central Wyoming College in Riverton.

Speeches by the candidates will lead off both meetings, followed by questions from Republican precinct committee men and women.

The precinct people, who will be credentialed before each event, will have reserved seating.

The public is invited to attend either or both forums.

Reach capital bureau reporter Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or at jared.miller@casperstartribune.net.

To view a video with more about how the Wyoming primary process works and to see the candidates in action, please click here.