Vice President Joseph R. Biden has canceled a Friday trip to New Jersey, where he was scheduled to stump for Newark mayor and U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker, according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
The cancellation was announced by Mr. Booker’s campaign on Tuesday morning and hasn’t yet been confirmed by the White House, though it appears the ongoing federal government shutdown is behind the move.
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With Mr. Biden no longer coming to New Jersey, Mr. Booker instead will embark on a five-day bus tour across New Jersey, the Star-Ledger reported. The trek will begin on Friday.
Mr. Booker, a Democrat, will face Republican Steve Lonegan in the Oct. 16 special election for U.S. Senate. The winner will the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died in June.
Mr. Biden’s change in travel plans is the latest to be blamed on the federal shutdown. The budget impasse also led to President Obama scrapping a long-awaited trip to Asia this week.
