Bob Jordan

@BobJordanAPP

TRENTON – Donald Trump’s popularity soared as he billed himself as the ultimate outsider repulsed by establishment politics on both sides of the aisle.

You wouldn’t know that from looking at his New Jersey delegates' list.

Trump voters in the June 7 presidential primary will be asked to back a roster of veteran political insiders, operatives, lobbyists, county party bosses and elected officials, including Gov. Chris Christie.

MORE:The Donald Trump supporter next door

Scheduled on the last day of the nominating calendar, the June 7 winner-take-all primary could be pivotal in determining whether Trump secures the nomination ahead of the Republican National Convention.

Trump leads the GOP contest with 992 delegates, according to the Associated Press. He needs 1,237 delegates to clinch his party’s nomination on the first ballot; Cruz follows with 562 and Ohio Gov. John Kasich has 153. The latter pair are counting on Trump falling short of the 1,237-delegates mark pre-convention, hoping they can wrest the GOP nomination from Trump on subsequent ballots.

The billionaire developer frequently refers to political insiders as “stupid’’ and “losers,’’ but he served notice in February that he was pivoting at least slightly.

“I do want somebody that’s political, because I want to get lots of great legislation we all want passed,” Trump said about picking a vice presidential nominee in a Q&A at Regent University in Virginia. “We’re going to probably choose somebody that’s somewhat political.”

Trump’s New Jersey delegate roster marks another departure.

The lineup was influenced by Christie, with Christie adviser Bill Palatucci signing up loyal Christie supporters to the 51 slots and alternate positions.

After ending his own presidential bid on Feb. 26, Christie became the first governor to endorse Trump and has been a top booster on the campaign trail. In New Jersey, Trump leads his GOP rivals by a wide margin, but Christie’s standing has declined.

Just 26 percent of registered voters had a favorable opinion of the governor in the latest Rutgers-Eagleton Poll. Sixty percent say the state is on the wrong track.

Nonetheless, Christie’s backing is critical to Trump’s White House hopes.

“If Donald Trump wins the statewide vote in New Jersey, the delegation is committed to vote for him on the first ballot as required by the rules of the state and national party,’’ Palatucci said. “Beyond the first ballot, if necessary, I’m sure most of the New Jersey delegation would seek out the opinion of the governor, given the high regard all have for him.’’

MORE:No plans for Stop Trump collusion in New Jersey

Trump hasn’t had that kind of delegate loyalty elsewhere. The Ted Cruz campaign notably had success in other states poaching delegates that will support Cruz if Trump can’t win the presidential nomination on the first ballot at the GOP convention in Cleveland in July.

New Jersey will be different, said Monmouth University pollster Patrick Murray, even though “some of the names on Trump delegate slate would not naturally be Trump supporters.’’

“The Trump delegates here are too tied to state politics to stray, or risk going up against the governor for the sake of a presidential candidate. These are people who know that would be unwise personally or professionally,’’ Murray said.

The delegate candidates will appear on the ballot as a slate on the same ballot line as that of the presidential candidate they’re tied to.

The Trump roster includes Christie, his son Andrew, and more than half of the state’s 21 Republican county chairmen.

WATCH:Christie’s wife hits Trump with epic eye roll

There are also eight lobbyists on Trump’s list, including George Gilmore, who works at 1868 Public Affairs and also serves as Ocean County GOP chairman.

Lobbyists are on delegate slates for most other Republican and Democratic candidates but Trump, who has assailed lobbyists and insiders on the stump, has the most.

Cruz has no lobbyists.

Steve Lonegan, chairman of Cruz’s New Jersey campaign, said that frames “a clear distinction’’ between Cruz and Trump.

“Trump’s slate is a who’s who of liberal Republican lobbyists and establishment party bosses,’’ Lonegan said. ““The lines are drawn. It’s the establishment versus the conservatives in New Jersey. At least Trump has come clean that he’s not the outsider, anti-establishment candidate he led people to believe he was.’’

“Not one of our delegates expect anything other than the satisfaction of trying to get Ted Cruz elected because he’s the best candidate,’’ Lonegan added. “After they do that, they’re all going to go home back to their families, back to their jobs, with the knowledge they did the right thing. As for what the Trump delegates expect to get out of this, you have to read between the lines.’’

Gilmore said he expects the Cruz campaign to paint Trump “as a contradiction,’’ but added he’s found that Trump supporters don’t have a problem with the New York real estate mogul considering more conventional political options.

“One woman told me she’s more OK with Trump because he’s been saying he’s going to appoint the best and the brightest to surround him and that will be helping him focus on what needs to be done,’’ Gilmore said. “People are accepting that.’’

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