MONTGOMERY TWP. - There's no ignoring problems in the Middle East, so it was no real surprise when Steve Fulop was asked Saturday if he would support ending state investment in Israeli bonds.

The questioner referred to Israeli "genocide." It was clear where she stood.

Fulop took a while to get there, but he eventually said, "I cannot commit to that." He said the Middle East would not be his primary concern as governor, and that, if elected, he would appoint a competent treasurer to make such decisions.

Some in the crowd of about 60 applauded. Fulop and his audience at a "meet and greet" were huddled under a tent in the backyard of a township home as rain fell sporadically.

The Jersey City mayor and gubernatorial candidate talks often about saying what he truly believes even if some would disagree.

"Clear and authentic," is how he describes himself.

And he soon got another chance to do just that.

A woman asked if his support for New York City congestion pricing would lose him votes. Most New Jersey politicians from both parties have condemned charging motorists an additional fee to enter midtown Manhattan.

Fulop, who backs the idea partly for environmental reasons, said he's convinced that very, very few commuters drive every day into Manhattan. And since those who do also pay tolls and parking, they could likely handle the additional fee.

Fulop began his campaign two years ago. He has insisted throughout that he is different because of his candor and his opposition to party leaders, or, if you prefer, bosses.

Besides his campaign, Fulop is backing a team of Assembly and county commission candidates around the state. Those primary challengers, he said, are annoying party leaders even more.

Just this week, he added three names to his list of endorsed Assembly candidates - Christopher Binetti in LD-18 and Guy Citron and Ty Powell in LD-23.

As for his race, Fulop maintains that an "establishment" candidate cannot win, because that individual will be tied to Phil Murphy.

He does not think Murphy has done a bad job, but he knows Republicans will campaign against "another four years of Phil Murphy." Fulop says they can't do that against him.

Fulop is also relying on his work in Jersey City, which he called "the best Renaissance city" in the country. Hoping to appeal to the party's left wing, Fuloo says the city was before the state with such things as paid leave and raising the minimum wage.

Fulop is giving up his job as mayor to run for governor. That, too, is a campaign statement. Unlike most of the other five candidates in the race, he said he has no "fallback position."

He specifically brought up Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer who are both running for governor just a few months after getting reelected to new terms in Congress.

"It should tell you something," Fulop said.