Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University, told The Hill that either prize is a real possibility.

“The keynote speech is a recognition that Christie is part of the Republican Party leadership, and clearly he will be in the consideration for future leadership positions,” Zelizer said.

He added that Christie is one of the “fresh voices” in the party, and that is one of the main reasons Romney chose him to give the keynote and to be one of his surrogates, to help allay voters’ fears that Romney is an old-school Republican aristocrat.

That Christie’s fresh voice is often blunt, and his approach tending more to the pugilistic than aristocratic, are also attributes calculated to fire up the GOP base.

Big Bully with issues of persecution, why else so obnoxious, just being republican is only part of the anger. his reprehensible demeanor is just what the capricious base wants somebody to help focus their misunderstood, by them, rage against humane ideology. hateful them