Tough-talking New Jersey governor Chris Christie has finally taken his presidential ambitions to the American people, promising to "tell it like it is" as he battles 13 other Republicans for their party's 2016 nomination.

After 13 years as US attorney for New Jersey and governor for the largely Democratic state, "I am now ready to fight for the people of the United States," Christie told a raucous crowd on Tuesday.

"Today I am proud to announce my candidacy for the Republican nomination for president of the United States of America."

Christie announced his intentions at his high school alma mater in the suburban township of Livingston, New Jersey about 56 kilometres west of New York City.

The blunt Christie, 52, blamed the Republican and Democratic parties alike for having "failed our country," and said that it was time to "tell each other the truth about the problems we have."