Maine Gov. LePage to run for re-election

(CNN) - Maine Gov. Paul LePage, who's become known for his outspoken, sometimes off-color comments, announced he will seek re-election next year.

The Republican imparted his decision Tuesday at a private fundraiser in Kennebunk hosted by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. While press were not allowed to report on the event, two Maine newspapers–The Sun Journal and the Portland Press Herald–quoted state Sen. Andre Cushing, a Republican, as saying the governor made his decision known to a group of about 100 people.

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LePage's office did not return a request Wednesday to confirm the governor's announcement.

Just last week LePage appeared uncertain of whether he would make a go for another term after the state legislature overrided his veto of a state budget bill.

"I am going to be meeting with my family at some point and we are going to be talking it over," LePage told reporters. "Quite frankly, I don't know how you recover from this. I really don't know how you recover from a tax increase."

Before that, he told the press he was considering a bid for Congress by running for Democratic Rep. Mike Michaud's seat.

Should LePage go through with a re-election bid, he would face a rocky battle. Since winning election with only 38% of the vote in a crowded 2010 gubernatorial race, LePage has gained a reputation nationally for making peculiar statements.

Last month he made headlines for using a crude sexual reference to describe a Democratic state lawmaker when the two men were in a standoff over new taxes in the proposed state budget.

"Sen. Jackson claims to be for the people but he's the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline," LePage told the television station WMTW, referring to state Sen. Troy Jackson.

LePage acknowledged his remark wasn't politically correct but emphasized that Jackson "is a bad person."

"He doesn't only have no brains, he has a black heart," he continued.

And last year, LePage apologized after referring to the Internal Revenue Service as the "Gestapo."

In his weekly radio address on Saturday, LePage again apologized for any offensive comments he has made in office and attributed his unusual style to his background.

"I grew up on the streets, and I'm a blue-collar governor. I'm not a politician, and I tell it like it is," he said.

However, LePage devoted the rest of his speech to explaining why he speaks the way he does.

"Some of my comments about politics in Augusta have also caused outrage. If the Maine people saw what really happens under the dome, they would be outraged too," he said, later adding: "Folks, if you believe the status quo is working, then you are sadly mistaken. I might have to use some street talk to wake you up."