Party crasher? Biden to stop by Tampa for GOP convention opening

Vice President Biden will play the role of party-crasher next week, with plans to stop by Tampa on the opening day of the Republican National Convention.

The campaign confirmed that Biden plans to be in Tampa, the convention site, on Monday before traveling Tuesday to other Florida cities.

The move breaks a longstanding and unofficial tradition of keeping a low profile during the opposing party's national convention.

Campaign advisers told Fox News the thinking is that, in today's fast-paced media environment, it's not wise to cede the stage even for a few days.

The Obama campaign is also keen on keeping a steady presence in Florida, one of roughly a dozen battleground states considered key to the November election.

Obama won the state in 2008, but Republicans are fighting hard to take it back.

The campaign did not offer specific details on what Biden would be talking about in Tampa and other cities, saying only that "additional details on the Vice President's trip are forthcoming."

Fox News' Ed Henry contributed to this report.

See FoxNews.com's full coverage of the 2012 Republican National Convention