Christie has not been invited to speak at the annual conservative gathering. Christie not invited to CPAC

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, seen as one of his party’s top prospects for the White House in 2016, has not been invited to speak at the annual conservative gathering hosted by CPAC, a source familiar with the decision confirmed.

The list of speakers for the March confab currently includes the party’s failed 2012 nominee, Mitt Romney, as well as former VP hopeful Sarah Palin and a string of current officials and 2016 hopefuls like Sen. Marco Rubio.


( PHOTOS: Chris Christie’s career)

But Christie, who infuriated some Republicans for praising President Barack Obama’s performance post-Hurricane Sandy, will not be among them.

On the one hand, it spares Christie — who’s running for reelection in a blue state — the agita of having to make an appearance that Democrats would use against him in 2013. On the other, it underscores that some conservatives still are angry over the post-Sandy performance, as well as his tongue-lashing of House Speaker John Boehner for tabling a bill to provide storm aid.

( PHOTOS: CPAC 2012)

Christie is pro-life and has generally met a social issues litmus test for Republicans. In 2007, CPAC officials declined to invite Rudy Giuliani to speak, but he was pro-choice and seen as too far to the left on social issues by his party’s base.

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Chris Christie