Hillary Clinton campaign officials say three volunteers "made a mistake" when they tried to set up a meeting Wednesday morning with a Republican Pennsylvania mayor known for his anti-illegal immigration views.

The meeting was swiftly canceled, apparently after word of it trickled up the Clinton campaign chain of command -- but not before Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta issued a press release announcing in big, bold letters that Clinton's economic development team was coming to town to meet with him. He even scheduled a midafternoon press conference with him and Clinton's supporters.

Barletta was not pleased when the meeting was nixed. He told FOX News that the Clinton campaign backed out just 30 minutes before the meeting, and that no explanation was given.

"Obviously they were called back," he said, chalking up the cancellation to "partisan politics."

The Clinton volunteers had intended the meeting to focus on Clinton's record of helping cities grow jobs, according to a voice mail left for the mayor by Sheila Menz, who identified herself as an economic development adviser for Clinton. In the voice mail, heard by FOX News, Menz said she and two other Clinton supporters from upstate New York were also eager to attend and discuss Clinton's growth plans.

The Clinton campaign did not fully explain during a Wednesday afternoon call with reporters why it canceled the meeting.

But Barletta said his political views probably played a factor.

He is a Republican candidate for Congress in northeastern Pennsylvania and is known for tough statements on illegal immigration. He has an open invitation out to the presidential candidates to come to his town and discuss the issue, and in his campaign kick-off announcement referred to illegal immigrants as "those who want to destroy our country and its small cities and towns."

In 2006, he gained national attention for introducing an ordinance that would crack down on employers of illegal immigrants and make English the city's official language.

"I don't want them here in Hazleton. They're not wanted. ... The jobs most work are selling drugs. Many I am dealing with are not law-abiding citizens," Barletta was quoted as saying in the Times Leader newspaper when he introduced the measure.

Barletta is also challenging a Clinton supporter, Democratic incumbent Rep. Paul Kanjorski, in the congressional race.

He's apparently having a tough time getting the ear of the other presidential candidates as well.

In March, his campaign issued a press release announcing that John McCain had declined his request to speak with him about illegal immigration. He said he hopes McCain will reconsider.

FOX News' Steve Brown contributed to this report.