With Mitt Romney closing the door to the vice presidency on Chris Christie, other doors remain open, with political analysts saying it’s now more likely, but not guaranteed, Christie will run for a second term as New Jersey’s governor.
They also say it’s a good bet Christie will be the choice to deliver the keynote speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa later this month.
“One assumes that Christie is the keynote speaker. He'll knock it out of the park,’’ said Larry Saba to, a political scientist at the University of Virginia. “The roar in Tampa will be heard in Miami.’’
“Christie is charismatic, he’s appealing to Republicans and he would make a powerful speech in Tampa. That’s a pick I don’t think Mitt Romney could get wrong,’’ said Monmouth University Polling Director Patrick Murray.
Romney introduced Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan as his vice presidential running mate Saturday.
Christie, back in New Jersey Saturday after a road trip to campaign for Romney, demonstrated support for Romney’s decision in a statement, saying the new ticket “understands the economic stagnation our country has been facing the last four years and the urgency with which we need to change course.’’
But Christie didn’t address his own future, and former New Jersey Republican campaign official Hazel Gluck said a Romney-Ryan victory in November over President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden could lead to a cabinet position for Christie.
“I think Attorney General. He’s qualified,’’ Gluck said.
Christie spent seven years as the U.S. Prosecutor for New Jersey.
“Selfishly for us, I want him to stay in New Jersey and run for re-election as governor,’’ Gluck said.
Monmouth County GOP Assemblywoman Amy Handlin said Christie only has good options.
“The world is his oyster,’’ Handlin said. “No one can predict the future, but I'm confident that he will continue to carry his message of reform and rejuvenation throughout the country.’’
Sabato said it’s not too early to start looking at Christie as a future presidential candidate.
“Christie has to get reelected, unless President Romney appoints him Attorney General, and that would make some sense. If Romney wins, Christie can't run until 2020, assuming he's reelected (as governor) in 2013,’’ Sabato said, adding that four more years as governor is “good timing’’ for a 2020 White House campaign by Christie.
“If Romney loses, and Christie is reelected in 2013, he'll have a lot of support for a run in 2016,’’ Sabato said. “Of course, Paul Ryan is now in line to be the presumed favorite for 2016 should Romney lose. And lots of others will be running, potentially Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio. but not both Bush and Rubio), Bobby Jindal, and a dozen more. But it's impossible to ignore Christie.’’
Murray said Romney didn’t improve his chances for success in November by picking Ryan, a fiscal and social conservative.
“I think it’s a pick made to charge up the Republican base but it has the potential to energize the Democratic base as well. It could be dangerous because a lot of potential Obama voters were going to stay home because they’re not excited about what happened the past four years, and a Romney-Ryan ticket could bring out some of those Obama supporters,’’ Murray said.
Should Christie bid for reelection in 2013, the list of potential Democratic opponents includes state Assemblyman Lou Greenwald, who recently said he was eager to take on Christie.
Greenwald said he wasn't surprised Romney went to Ryan instead of Christie.
"With New Jersey ranked near the bottom of the nation in economic growth and unemployment rate, even Mitt Romney isn't buying the Jersey Comeback. My guess is that the Romney campaign didn't think it would be a convincing economic argument in places like Ohio and Florida to pick a running mate who is presiding over 9.6 percent unemployment and a 20 percent property tax increase on his watch in New Jersey,’’ Greenwald said. “When voters across this country reject this millionaires-first approach in November, Chris Christie should pay close attention."