Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney will focus on veterans' issues with a Wednesday speech to the American Legion as speakers at the GOP convention address defense and foreign affairs.

Mitt Romney listens to Governor Christie deliver the keynote address at the Republican National Convention.
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The Republican nominee is making a day-trip detour to Indiana to speak to the veterans' service organization a s the convention here continues. Sen. John McCain — nominated four years ago only to lose to Democrat Barack Obama — will address delegates Wednesday evening, as will former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, had planned to address the convention from Indianapolis by video hook-up in conjunction with McCain, a Navy veteran and former prisoner of war. But campaign officials said Wednesday that that address had been scrapped, and that Romney would return to Tampa instead of spending the night in Indiana.

The convention schedule — and Romney's plans — promise a focus on foreign affairs before Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, Romney's running mate, addresses the gathering Wednesday night.

Romney, officially nominated Tuesday, is looking to burnish his credentials as a plausible commander in chief.

McCain is set to speak at 8 p.m. Eastern time, while Rice will address foreign policy hours later.

In an interview Tuesday, McCain said he was glad to have a role in Romney's convention, however small.

"It's not my show," the five-term Arizona senator said. "I'm just grateful they asked me to speak."

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