For NJ’s Christie, keynote address could be a stepping-stone to much bigger things

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie won’t be on the Republican ticket with GOP nominee Mitt Romney this fall, but he will be center stage at the Republican National Convention tonight in Tampa.

The New Jersey governor, who was widely mentioned as a possible VP selection before Romney chose Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, will be delivering the convention’s keynote address at 10:35 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Tuesday, according to the schedule of events. Ann Romney, wife of the GOP nominee, will be speaking at 10 p.m.

The keynote speaker’s usual role is to set the tone for the convention and articulate the themes for the fall campaign. In speaking with CBS News today, Christie said he hoped to lay out a vision about what it will mean for the country after Romney and Ryan are elected. He also said he would spend some time talking about his experience as governor of New Jersey.

But if recent history is any indication, he may also be auditioning for 2016 if Romney fails to unseat President Obama. Conversely, if Romney wins, Christie’s keynote speech may help him land a job in a Romney administration.

The 2008 GOP keynote speaker was failed GOP presidential candidate and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and the 2004 keynote speaker was a Democrat, then-Georgia Gov. Zell Miller. But in 2000, the GOP abandoned the traditional keynote speaker and gave equal billing to Sen. John McCain and retired Gen. Colin Powell. McCain went on to become the party’s 2008 nominee, and Powell served as secretary of state under President George W. Bush.

On the Democratic side, recent keynote speakers have gone on to much bigger things, such as the presidency itself. In 1988, a young governor from Arkansas named Bill Clinton went on and on at the nominating convention for Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen in Atlanta. Clinton spoke for so long that his biggest applause line was “In closing…”

In 2004, an Illinois state senator and U.S. Senate candidate by the name of Barack Obama electrified the crowd at the John Kerry-John Edwards convention in Boston.

Both Clinton and Obama went on to much greater things four years after their keynote speeches.

Christie is certain to rev up the GOP faithful in Tampa with scathing attacks on Obama and the Democrats and kind words for the Romney-Ryan ticket, but one thing he most certainly won’t do is hurt his chances for a presidential run of his own or a job in the Romney administration, should it indeed come to pass.

Tune in tonight to get the details, straight from the keynote speaker’s mouth.

In addition to Christie and Ann Romney, tonight’s other speakers include former U.S. senator and failed 2012 presidential candidate Rick Santorum, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and controversial Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who survived a recall vote in the Badger State this summer.

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SOURCES:

Chris Christie on his RNC keynote speech, Aug. 28, 2012, Washington Post

Tuesday’s GOP schedule: Ann Romney, Chris Christie, Aug. 28, Wall Street Journal

Convention keynote speaker revs up NJ delegates, Aug. 28, WTNH

Additional sources and resources linked to in text.