Highly reputed for being a political corruption-buster during his seven years as US Attorney for New Jersey, Chris Christie on Thursday announced his intention to run for governor, in a likely face-off with Governor Jon S. Corzine who would be seeking re-election.

With the formal announcement to be made in February, Christie - who is a Republican - has sent a seven-paragraph e-mail to his supporters saying that he was filing his papers, and briefly touching his accomplishments over the years. He wrote that he has taken the step after a lot of forethought, and after careful contemplation with his family.

Adding that the people need to make a decision about the "most credible" candidate, Christie said: "I will put my record up against anyone's in terms of doing what I say, when I say it. I think people have seen that's what I stood for as U. S. attorney and I will do exactly the same thing if I am elected governor."

Having filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission, Christie can start raising money for the 2009 race. This is a significant step for him, more so as he is pitted against the multimillionaire Corzine, who chucked in excess of $40 million of his own money into the 2005 gubernatorial race.

Christie's candidacy is being cheered by moderate Republicans, most of whom are hopeful that he is the best candidate to reclaim the New Jersey governor's office after nearly a decade of Democratic rule.