Though he was overlooked as a candidate for vice president, Chris Christie will be delivering the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., later this month, the GOP announced today.
Christie, the New Jersey governor and former U.S. attorney for the state, said in a statement that he won’t shy away from the tough issues.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie
“We have an opportunity in Tampa to make clear that if we tell each other the hard truths, tackle the big problems, and make bold choices, we will see America’s comeback,” he said, according to a report in the Washington Post.
The Post noted Christie was a careful choice by the GOP for the highly sought after role, calling him “one of the few party figures who appeals across the broad partisan spectrum.”
Christie’s blunt personality seemed to dim his chances at being chosen by presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney in the earlier months of the race. He was at the top of many analysts’ lists for Romney’s VP pick, but the Massachusetts Governor ultimately went with Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan.
Christie made his name as a tough prosecutor, serving as the garden state’s top federal law enforcement official from 2002 to 2008.
