The three-term governor of New York, George Pataki, has all but given up on his bid for the White House. He told supporters in the key primary state of New Hampshire that he is not ready to launch his campaign. Tellingly, he added that he would not object if his supporters offered their backing to his rivals.

To many, Mr. Pataki’s failure to propel himself into what is already a heated national campaign for the Republican nomination is a clear indication that his presidential ambitions are over. Although he has long harbored the aim of leveraging his time at Albany into a run for the White House, he has singularly failed to gain traction in a race that, although still more than a year away, is in full swing.

He broke the news to supporters at a private dinner in Manchester, N.H., on Tuesday, in a visit that significantly contained no public appearances. In a remark that left many supporters disappointed and confused, he said he would not be rushed into a decision.

Some held out the hope that Mr. Pataki’s remarks indicated that he would enter the presidential race later this year. “He didn’t shut the door last night. He said ‘at the present time,'” a former state representative who was with Mr. Pataki on Tuesday, Dave Currier, told an Associated Press reporter. However, Mr. Currier conceded that the remarks were both unwelcome and unexpected.

“A lot of us anticipated an almost immediate announcement he was going to form a presidential search committee. … A lot of us were wondering what was happening,” he told AP.

Mr. Pataki’s decision to delay a final decision will do little to inspire those who are looking for a dynamic Republican to take on what is likely to be a strong Democratic candidate in 2008. Ten Republicans have signaled their intention to run. Although a last minute entry is possible, Mr. Pataki — who has always been considered a long shot — has painted himself as a distant outsider.

In a telephone interview with the AP on Tuesday, Mr. Pataki, 61, gave little indication that he was prepared to fight to stay in the race. “At this point, there’s plenty of politics,” he said. “I don’t think there’s enough policy analysis, and that’s what I’m going to focus on.”