Christie, Paul not invited to NRA summit

Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Gov. Chris Christie (N.J.) won’t be among the slew of likely Republican presidential rivals speaking at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention this year. 

Neither Paul, who launched his presidential campaign Tuesday, nor Christie, who is still weighing his own White House bid, were invited to speak at the NRA Leadership Forum in Nashville on Friday, according to the group.

“There are time constraints and we just don’t have the ability to accommodate everyone at every event,” NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker told The Hill.

{mosads}Paul has an initial “A” grade from the NRA, which noted that he has not yet cast any votes on scored legislation. He officially announced his presidential bid Tuesday in Louisville, Ky., and plans to be in Iowa on Friday as part of his four-day swing through early voting states. Next year’s NRA convention will be in Louisville.

Christie, meanwhile, got a “C” from the NRA when he was running for reelection in 2013 after he criticized as “reprehensible” an NRA ad mentioning President Obama’s daughters. 

Some potential candidates did approach the NRA to be part of the event, Baker said, adding that it welcomed those who have been “friends of the NRA and have been staunch supporters of the second amendment.”

A request for comment from Christie’s office was referred to his leadership PAC, Leadership Matters for America, which did not have a response. 

A request for comment from a Paul representative was not immediately returned. 

Among the speakers at Friday’s event, which is billed to draw more than 70,000 people, are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), and Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Ted Cruz (Texas).

Dr. Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal are also slated to speak, along with Donald Trump, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. 

“This year we have our most extensive list of speakers,” Baker said. “The popularity continues to grow.”

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) will also speak at the event.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) was also not invited to speak at the event, according to The Tennessean, which first reported news of Christie and Paul’s snub.