New Jersey guy Christie has double-edged appeal

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It seems a natural assignment for Chris Christie, the bombastic, in-your-face New Jersey guy whose confrontational style as the Republican governor of a liberal state has made him a rising political star.

Christie, who will give the keynote speech at the Republican convention on Tuesday, may not be used to being an opening act but he is perfectly comfortable delivering the red-meat rhetoric that fires up conservative activists.

And when he lays out Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney's case for a change in leadership from President Barack Obama, he will take a big step into the national spotlight with implications for his own potential White House bid in 2016 or 2020.

As a Republican in Democratic-dominated New Jersey, Christie has been forced to reach out to independents while cultivating a pugnacious style that makes him a hero to some national conservatives.

Romney hopes that double-edged appeal rubs off. Criticized as cold and cautious, he has not gained ground on Obama in polls since clinching the nomination in the spring - he now runs about even or slightly behind - and he had not fired up conservatives until he chose another of their favorites, Congressman Paul Ryan, as his running mate earlier this month.

"Conventions are about rallying the troops and also about presenting your opening message to the broader public, and Christie can do both," said David Redlawsk, director of the Rutgers/Eagleton poll in New Jersey.

"He has great appeal to the Republican rank and file but he can walk the middle ground when he has to," Redlawsk said. "He's the tough guy who can tell it like it is, and it's very valuable to Romney to have him in that role."

Christie's effectiveness as an economic messenger has been undercut recently by a slumping New Jersey economy that has shed jobs and now has the fourth-highest state unemployment rate, 9.8 percent, higher than the national average of 8.3 percent.

The so-called "Jersey Comeback" previously trumpeted by Christie has begun to ring hollow.

"There are three words that are not in my speech on Tuesday night: The Jersey Comeback," he told state reporters. "Those three words aren't in, and were never in.”

Questions:

1. Who will give the keynote speech at the Republican National Convention?

2. Who is the Republican presidential candidate?

3. Chris Christie is the governor of which state?

Answers:

1. Chris Christie.

2. Mitt Romney.

3. New Jersey.

About the broadcaster:

CJ Henderson is a foreign expert for China Daily's online culture department. CJ is a graduate of the University of Sydney where she completed a Bachelors degree in Media and Communications, Government and International Relations, and American Studies. CJ has four years of experience working across media platforms, including work for 21st Century Newspapers in Beijing, and a variety of media in Australia and the US.