Family illness keeps Biden off trail

WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. Democratic vice presidential nominee Joe Biden has canceled campaign events this weekend due to what his campaign called a serious illness in the family.

Biden had been scheduled to appear at campaign events Saturday night in Washington and Sunday in Virginia, Fox News Channel reported Saturday. However, Biden spokesman David Wade issued a statement saying the campaign had canceled Biden's schedule for both days because of "a serious illness" in the family of the Delaware senator's wife, Jill Biden.

"Hospice has advised the Bidens to remain close by, and we appreciate everyone's respect for the family's privacy," Wade said.

Joe Biden's mother-in-law has been sick for some time and the family was not surprised to learn she had taken a turn for the worse, Fox News said.