Kyle Green | The Roanoke Times

U.S. Senator Evan Bayh D-Ind., addresses a crowd in downtown, Roanoke during a rally on behalf of Barack Obama. Bayh was filling in for Sen. Joe Biden, who canceled to attend to an illness in the family.

Sen. Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for vice president, cancelled his campaign appearance scheduled for today in Roanoke because of family illness.

"The campaign has cancelled Senator Biden's schedule today and tomorrow because of a serious illness in Jill Biden's family," Biden spokesman David Wade said Saturday. "Hospice has advised the Bidens to remain close by, and we appreciate everyone's respect for the family's privacy."

According to The Associated Press, Biden canceled his weekend campaign events because his wife's mother is ill.

The campaign said that Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., will speak instead. Bayh, originally a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential bid, was considered as a possible vice presidential choice for Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

The event will be at the same time and place.

Biden was scheduled to talk about Obama's economic, energy and health care policies at 12:30 p.m. today at Century Plaza in downtown Roanoke.

Biden's speech in Henrico County also was cancelled. The senator also cancelled events for Saturday, including a Washington, D.C., fundraiser and a speech at the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner.

-- Jessica Marcy