The first northeastern socially moderate candidate bites the dust. Manchester Union-Leader:

He didn’t directly take himself out of presidential contention, but former New York Gov. George Pataki told key Granite State Republicans last night he won’t object if they want to closely examine and endorse other candidates.

At a private dinner in a secluded alcove at Fratello’s Italian Ristorante in Manchester on Tuesday night, Pataki told about a dozen activists and uncommited GOP leaders that “he’s going to let the dust settle and see where we are in a few months,” House Republican Leader Michael Whalley told UnionLeader.com today.

Pataki said that “he’s not going to actively campaign for President, indefinitely,” said a person at the dinner who asked not to be named. “He never came out and said, ‘I’m not running for President,’ but everybody basically saw the handwriting on the wall, which is he’s out. When you tell your activists it’s OK to go support other candidates, the handwriting is on the wall.”

Hat tip to Elana Levin.