On the campaign trail recently, Bill Spadea said that if Donald Trump endorsed him for governor, the race would be over.

But if the president endorsed Jack Ciattarelli he (Spadea) would move on and continue his campaign.

Spadea now has a chance to do just that.

Trump rocked the world of New Jersey Republican politics Monday night by endorsing Ciattarelli in the June 10 primary.

In a typical Trump message filled with over-the-top superlatives and the capitalization of words not meant to be capitalized, the president said Ciattarelli was "terrific" and that he is backed by many of New Jersey's "Highly Respected Leaders." He also suggested Ciattarelli has the best chance of winning this fall.

Spadea responded thusly:

"Donald Trump’s endorsement comes after a years-long effort by Jack to lie about his own record. My resolve to fight for the people of New Jersey has never been greater. Remember, in the last year, not one, but two New Jersey candidates failed to capitalize on an endorsement from President Trump and lost big. Given Jack’s history as a repeat loser, I believe it will be three losses in a row.”

The most prominent Trump-endorsed candidate who lost last year was U.S. Senate candidate Christine Serrano Glassner. She lost in the primary to Curtis Bashaw.

Anyone who has attended Spadea campaign gatherings can attest to the fact he has a very passionate following. Earlier this month, he drew about 300 people to a bar in Morristown.

Those individuals are unlikely to be dissuaded by a Trump endorsement of Ciattarelli.

The problem for Spadea is that polls have him behind and for him to win, he needs to bring more people to his cause.

Will still-undecided Republican voters be influenced by the president standing with Ciattarelli?

That seems pretty likely.

By any objective measure, Spadea's road ahead just got a bit bumpier.