Salem State says speech by Edwards is canceled

Former presidential hopeful John Edwards and his wife, Elizabeth, have backed out of a scheduled speech at Salem State College, the second lecture they have altered since the former North Carolina senator admitted last month to having an extra-marital affair.

Karen Cady, a spokeswoman for Salem State, said The Harry Walker Agency notified the college of the cancellation during the weekend. No explanation was given, she said.

The speech, scheduled for Sept. 23, was to be called, "A Conversation with John and Elizabeth Edwards." It was part of the college's long-running lecture series that has featured politicians and sports and media figures. Patriots Coach Bill Belichick spoke in the spring.

College officials said last month that they had no plans to cancel the speech following Edwards's admission that he had an affair while his wife was undergoing treatment for cancer.

Even before the admission, college officials had said they expected tickets to sell out. After the affair was made public, they considered moving the event to a larger arena. Tickets ranged from $10 to $75 for those wishing to attend a book signing after the lecture.

Cady said yesterday that the college still hopes to hold a lecture Sept. 23 and is seeking a replacement.

"We are fast-forward, full steam ahead in getting a speaker to replace the Edwardses," she said.

A representative from Walker Agency did not return a call for comment yesterday.

The two were scheduled to speak next week at Hofstra University in New York State, but Elizabeth Edwards dropped out of that event. John Edwards is still scheduled to speak at the University of Illinois in October.

Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Milton Valencia can be reached at mvalencia@globe.com.