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The six-term assemblyman, in a letter released last Thursday, announced he would not seek his party's endorsement for re-election, but would instead run for the line in a primary election against challenger Marc Molinaro.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the 'fix' is in," wrote Manning, R-East Fishkill.
But Republican leaders in Dutchess and Columbia counties said that if Manning is feeling like the odd man out, it's the result of his actions, not those of Molinaro or the party.
Molinaro, a Dutchess County legislator and village of Tivoli mayor announced his candidacy for Manning's 103rd Assembly District seat on March 1. Two days later Manning abandoned his quest for the Conservative endorsement for governor to run for re-election to the Assembly.
Over the past several weeks, Molinaro has picked up the endorsements of six Dutchess County town Republican Committees as well as the Columbia County Conservative Committee. No committees have yet endorsed Manning.
"He's sort of laid his own path in the past six months or year. That's why people have turned on him," said Columbia County GOP Chairman Angelo Valentino.
Valentino said Manning hurt himself in Columbia County by ingratiating himself in the internal workings of the party and winding up on the losing side of a fight for the party's chairmanship and by waiting so long to re-enter the Assembly race.
That Manning snubbed an invitation to meet last week with the party's executive committee only further hurt his reputation.
"I'm not creating these situations, he is," said Valentino.
Dutchess County Republican Chairwoman Betsy Brilliant said that while it is Manning's prerogative to bypass the committee process, the move could serve to further alienate Republicans already dissatisfied with 12-year incumbent.
"Patrick has always said he holds the committee process and members in high regard. Apparently that's not quite the fact," said Brilliant. "He is bypassing the committee process; he's saying, 'I don't think you people are important.'"
"There's a reason why those committees are choosing a new candidate to represent them up in Albany," Brilliant said.
The Dutchess County Republican Committee will hold its nominating convention on April 27. The Columbia County Republican Committee will hold its convention on May 25.
The 103rd Assembly District comprises 12 Dutchess County towns, including the Northern Dutchess communities of Red Hook, Milan and Pine Plains, as well as nine Columbia County towns and the city of Hudson.
