PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island’s independent Gov. Lincoln Chafee plans to deliver a prime-time speech supporting President Barack Obama’s re-election on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention.

Chafee’s office said he is scheduled to speak between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday at the convention in Charlotte, N.C. Chafee’s address will come shortly before a speech by first lady Michelle Obama.

The former Republican is a co-chairman of Obama’s re-election campaign. In a Friday statement announcing the convention speech, Chafee said Obama has been “a friend to Rhode Island.”

“His policies have brought valuable benefits to the people of our state during historically difficult times, and I am proud to explain to the convention audience why I — a former Republican — and lots of people like me are supporting the president’s re-election,” Chafee said.

Chafee served in the U.S. Senate with Obama. Chafee left the Republican Party in 2007 and backed Obama in his 2008 presidential run.

When Obama traveled to Rhode Island in 2010 during Chafee’s run for governor, the president declined to endorse Democratic hopeful Frank Caprio as a courtesy to Chafee.

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