Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE has reportedly hired Republican strategist Paul Manafort to lead his delegate efforts, The New York Times reported Monday.

Trump confirmed the hire to the Times during a phone interview.

"Yes, it is true," he said.

Manafort has had past experience with nomination fights.

ADVERTISEMENT

He helped to manage the convention floor for Gerald Ford during the 1976 convention, when Ford was facing off against Ronald Reagan. Neither candidate went into the convention with a majority of the delegates.

Manafort also helped to manage the convention floor for Ronald Reagan in 1980, George H. W. Bush in 1988 and Bob Dole in 1996.

Manafort has worked as an international political consultant and served as a senior adviser to former President Viktor F. Yanukovych of Ukraine.

Trump is hoping to clinch the nomination ahead of the convention.

On Monday, his campaign announced it will continue with its plans to contest the delegate allocation from the Louisiana primary. Trump beat rival Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzCrenshaw looms large as Democrats look to flip Texas House seat SCOTUS confirmation in the last month of a close election? Ugly The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' MORE by less than 4 points in the Louisiana primary and both candidates were awarded 18 delegates, but Cruz could end up getting 10 more delegates than the front-runner, according to The Wall Street Journal. He could end up taking Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioGOP lawmakers distance themselves from Trump comments on transfer of power McConnell pushes back on Trump: 'There will be an orderly transition' Graham vows GOP will accept election results after Trump comments MORE's five delegates — as the candidate has since dropped out of the race — and five unbound ones.