PORT MONMOUTH - Gov. Chris Christie said he will run again for governor.

"We decided. We're going to seek re-election," Christie said today.

Christie made the announcement today after meeting with hurricane Sandy first-responders here.

Christie had been expected to run for reelection after he decided not to run for president and was passed over as the GOP's choice for vice president, but had so far been cagey about his plans.

Christie makes the announcement as his approval ratings have hit an all time high, cresting 70 percent for his handling of Hurricane Sandy.  

No Democrat has officially stepped forward to run against the Republican governor, though several names are consistently in the mix.  The most prominent Democrat to voice interest is Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who rivals Christie in his nationwide appeal.  Booker has said he will decide by Christmas but is rumored to also be interested in a 2014 Senate run.

State Sen. Barbara Buono also has shown interest in running for the job.  Buono has been the most vocal of the potential challengers to date.  State Sen. Dick Codey, who served as acting governor after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned, has also voiced some albeit tepid interest in running for governor and has said he will make his decision  before the end of the year.

Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3), Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald (D-6), and Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19) are all also potential Democratic Party gubernatorial candidates.