HARRISBURG, Pa.—The approach of Sandy is prompting Vice President Joe Biden to cancel a campaign visit that he had scheduled to Scranton, the city where he grew up.

Biden's visit had been scheduled for Thursday, but the campaign said Monday that it was canceled to ensure that all local law enforcement and emergency management resources can focus on public safety during the storm.

Biden has made the city a regular stop in campaign seasons and visited there in the final days of the 2008 campaign. Biden was last in Pennsylvania in September.