Republican Governor Chris Christie wins re-election in New Jersey

New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie handily won re-election on Tuesday, according to media projections, a victory seen boosting his widely expected bid for the White House in 2016. Christie was declared the unofficial winner, within minutes of the polls closing, by CNN, CBS and NBC.

The win by the blunt, tough-talking incumbent was expected by political experts to solidify his standing in the national Republican Party, showing he can win votes from both sides of the political aisle and reach compromises with Democrats. The Republican incumbent defeated Democratic challenger Barbara Buono, a state senator. Christie, a former prosecutor, has been highly visible working with Democrats, such as newly elected U.S. Senator Cory Booker, the former mayor of Newark. He notably praised President Barack Obama for his response after Superstorm Sandy devastated the state last year - an image that resonated with independent voter Lindsay Wilson, 32, a stay-at-home mother of two in Madison, New Jersey.

"If an opposing president supports him, he's got to be good. That was huge," Wilson said. That gesture, which Christie explained was part of his job, infuriated many national Republicans who thought it hurt their presidential candidate, Mitt Romney, days later at the ballot box. Christie's popularity has remained high since the storm swept ashore and caused billions of dollars in damage and displaced hundreds of thousands of people. A big win will catch the eye of potential major political donors nationally, said Heath Brown, assistant professor of political science at Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey.