Christie selection as GOP keynote speaker sets stage for political future

Political analysts say the selection of New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to be the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention will be a boost for the GOP — and Christie’s political future.

Monmouth University political analyst Patrick Murray says having Christie as the keynote speaker will make independent voters take a closer look at what’s going on at the Republican Convention.

“It will generate excitement for the ideas that the Republican Party has to offer because Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are going to rely on Chris Christie to kind of set that stage, set that tone, generate that excitement, and say we’re the party of ideas. Listen to what we have to say,” Murray says.

Murray expects Christie’s speech will keep his political star rising.

Rider University political science professor Ben Dworkin agrees. He says Christie may be able to set himself up for a future presidential run they way Barack Obama did with his keynote address in 2004.