Cantor cancels speech; security cited

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- House Majority Leader Eric Cantor canceled a speech Friday at the University of Pennsylvania for security reasons, his office said.

Cantor, a Virginia Republican, was to deliver his economic address at the university's Wharton School of Business, but the school announced the event was canceled hours before he was to speak, The Hill reported. Keystone Progress and other progressive opponents had announced plans to protest outside of the speech venue in Philadelphia.

"The office of the majority leader was informed last night by Capitol Police that the University of Pennsylvania was unable to ensure that the attendance policy previously agreed to could be met," Cantor spokesman Brad Dayspring said Friday.

People familiar with the situation told Roll Call Cantor and Wharton officials initially agreed the audience would be made up of 250 students, faculty, guests and other members of the "broader University of Pennsylvania community." However, Capitol Police later indicated they were told the first 300 people, regardless of their affiliations, would be admitted.

Cantor raised the hackles of Occupy Wall Street protesters and other activist groups after he called them "mobs" last month.