His aides have told Fox News exclusively that he’ll run. He kind of admitted as much during an interview with Time’s Mark Halperin earlier today, but this is the first specific confirmation. He’s in.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry will make “a definitive announcement that he is in the 2012 race for the presidency Saturday,” aides told Fox News.

The language is significant. For several days the Perry camp has said he would signal his intentions and announce later.

“This is it,” the sources explain. No exploratory committee, no more deliberation.

He’s actually in a good position to take the nomination, as evidenced by the attacks from both the left and right that came even before anonymous confirmation of his candidacy.

And with his outstanding record on job creation, Perry is big threat to the Obama presidency. Expect the administration to deploy its attack dogs in all media formats. Expect the nastiness to really pick up.