Governor Christie has made it official, saying he will run for re-election next year.

Governor Chris Christie
Governor's Office
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During a visit to Port Monmouth to thank Superstorm Sandy first responders, Christie said this past weekend he discussed the matter with his wife and kids, and everyone agreed he should seek re-election.

So why make the announcement now?

The Governor said he promised people when he made up his mind he'd tell everybody and also, because of everything that's happened, "the public needs to know that I'm in this for the long haul - that the person who has helped to lead them through the initial crisis wants to be here to lead them through the rebuilding and restoration of our state. It would be wrong for me to leave now - I don't want to leave now. We have a job to do that job won't be finished by next year."

Christie re-election campaign logo
Logo for Governor Christie re-election campaign as seen on an email sent to supporters yesterday. (Facebook)
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He also said, "I think one of the things people have learned about me in the last 3 years is that I don't really hem and haw much - I'm no Hamlet - it's no to be or not to be moment when I make my decisions. I make my decisions and some people like some of them and some people don't and I'm sure there will be some people who are really happy about this decision and some people less so, but when I make my decisions I like to tell folks…That, combined with I think the real sense I had that people wanted to know, 'are you in this with us for the long haul,' or 'are you going to leave now and leave us to have someone else lead us through the rebuilding of the state?'...It's answered- I'm running, I'm in this race, I'm in this race to win, to win re-election and to continue to lead the state that I love and that I'm passionate about."

"I've always told everybody I love this job more than any job I've ever had in my life - and I don't see any reason for me to leave it voluntarily…I have a job to finish that I never anticipated 6 weeks ago having."

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