Bob Jordan

@BobJordanAPP

PISCATAWAY - New Jersey’s normally sleepy presidential primary will get some attention this election cycle from Donald Trump, Gov. Chris Christie said Friday.

Trump is a runaway leader in polling for New Jersey’s 51 Republican primary delegates, but Christie said Trump will campaign here anyway because “he’s got a friend who’s governor.’’

Christie, after ending his own presidential bid, endorsed Trump Feb. 26.

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Trump rallies elsewhere have had skirmishes between supporters and protesters, but reports of incidents have become less frequent since Trump called off a rally at the University of Illinois at Chicago Pavilion March 14 due to security concerns as thousands of protesters gathered outside.

The Trump campaign hasn’t announced any events in the Garden State ahead of the June 7 primary, but Christie said that’s because Trump “has primaries to worry about well before ours.’’

“He’s got five on Tuesday -- Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Then he’s got Indiana after that and a bunch of others in May,’’ he said. “I have a fairly decent amount of influence with the guy, so I think he’ll show up if I ask him. I’m sure you’ll see him.’’

New Jersey’s presidential primaries historically don’t draw much attention from candidates because the party nominations are routinely secured by June. But Trump, who is the GOP frontrunner, may not be able to clinch the nomination by the time votes take place in New Jersey and California, which are among this year’s final six states to decide.

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The nominations aren’t formal until the national party conventions take place. The GOP affair is July 18-21. Democrats meet in Philadelphia July 25-28.

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Christie made the comments after visiting the Interim Management Entity call center, managed through Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care. The new hotline coordinates addiction treatment services and has received 42,354 calls in its first nine months, through the end of Mmarch.

Christie and Department of Human Services acting Commissioner Elizabeth Connolly toured the call center and then visited privately with call takers, program directors, and people who called the hotline for help for themselves or others.

Christie said individuals with addiction disorders who have private insurance, are uninsured or on Medicaid are able to more effectively access a broader scope of available services and resources throughout the state.

The 24-hour hotline number is 1-844-276-2777.

This year’s state budget included a $2.3 million allocation to create a single point of entry for addiction service emergencies. Christie has proposed $2.7 million for the services in the budget year beginning in July. The rest of the $9 million project is funded by the federal Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.

Bob Jordan 609-984-4343, bjordan@gannettnj.com