Age: 49
Occupation: New Jersey Governor
Christie's stage presence in U.S. politics is as big as the man. This year, the combative Republican governor helped get a state payroll-tax cut enacted and vetoed a bill legalizing gay marriage, and he has been among the most active surrogates for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. An often touted prospect for the Veep slot, Christie is sure to be the first name on many Republicans' lips in 2016 if President Obama is re-elected.