All clear for Chris Christie's reelection campaign.
The New Jersey governor, who has been at the forefront during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, said he wants to be around during the long recovery process.
"I don't want to leave now. We have a job to do," said Christie during a press conference. "That job won't be finished by next year and so that's the other reason I wanted to reassure folks that for those of you who have been so kind and said so many wonderful things about the leadership that we provided. So many people have said to me over the last couple of weeks 'don't leave.' So guess what? I'm not leaving."
The Associated Press was among the first to break the report on Christies reelection aspirations.
All might be well for Christie winning the 2013 reelection as he currently leads approval ratings by a heavily comfortable margin.
According to a Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, Christie's approval numbers soared to 77 percent, up from the 56 percent before Sandy hit Jersey's shores. A Rutgers-Eagleton poll also showed Christie in positive territory with 67 percent approving his work as governor, up 19 percent form October.
"Governor Christie has emerged as a clear leader in this crisis, with New Jerseyans applauding his efforts, and in particular his literal and figurative embrace of President Obama in a time of need," said David Redlawsk, director of the Rugters-Eagleton poll. "Despite a recent New York Times story that some national GOP leaders are condemning the governor for his show of bipartisanship, New Jerseyans of all stripes say it was exactly the right thing to do."
It is unclear as to who'll challenge Christie in 2013, but speculation has Neward Mayor Cory Booker as a potential Democratic candidate.
According to a Quinnipiac poll last month, Christie led against Booker in a hypothetical poll with 46 percent to 42 percent.