01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, August 25, 2005

Who is Republican National Committeeman Rob Manning?

Or, who is he to jeopardize a national GOP contribution to the state party of up to $500,000 just because it somehow might help Sen. Lincoln Chafee win a primary over Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey?

The funds generally are for grass-roots party-building efforts like voter identification. The degree to which the money might help Chafee vis-a-vis Laffey is open to debate, and details are so arcane that Governor Carcieri said yesterday that he's looking for answers himself. "We'll work this out," he said.

No doubt. But whether he can also succeed in getting Laffey to leave Chafee alone and run for, say, lieutenant governor, remains to be seen.

I wouldn't sweat the specifics of the contribution fracas. It's more important to understand that it's a fight over turf and ego against the backdrop of the Senate maneuvering. A good tip-off: When I asked Laffey yesterday about the aid battle, he quickly reinforced Manning's spin and said, "Any time party bosses try to stack the deck, whether they're in Rhode Island or down in Washington, we should be concerned."

Laffey says Manning "tries to represent all Republicans." He certainly comes across as representing Laffey. And surely, Manning -- who so far has refused to sign off on the national party funds -- isn't touting Chafee. "I'd prefer to talk about other candidates," he says.

Manning, 52, lives in Charlestown. What springs to mind first about him is the pinstriped suits he favors. "You know -- banker," he explains. Manning, who reports he also has some non-pinstriped numbers, retired at 48 after a career with the banking conglomerate now known as Citigroup.

As to how you get to retire at 48, Manning says, "If you're in the right place at the right time in the investment-banking business and you work for a company as successful as Citigroup . . . then you can do it."

He now runs a private-investment firm from home.

Carcieri calls him "very accomplished, very bright" and says Manning was helpful in his 2002 campaign and in working since to court party donors.

Manning and Chafee were classmates (1975) at Brown University but didn't know each other. Manning did meet someone there with whom he forged a lasting tie: his wife, the former Lynn Austin, Class of 1976. "We were in a coed dorm with rooms two doors apart," he says. She is a PR consultant.

Manning majored in international relations. For most of his banking career he was posted to the Middle East, Africa and Japan.

Chafee calls Manning "smart" and admires his sense of adventure in working abroad.

Manning backs George Bush on Iraq and on tax cuts; Chafee does not. And, bristles Manning, in a reference to a write-in Chafee cast in 2004, "I voted for the president. He didn't."

Manning likes Laffey on the issues and calls him a proven, able, dynamic executive.

Manning's stand in the national party aid scrap evoked tough comments from some in the Chafee camp yesterday.

Eileen Slocum, the national committeewoman, said she was "shocked and dismayed," accused Manning of endangering the party, and asserted that Laffey should be "ashamed" and should urge Manning to relent.

With Laffey's backing, Manning last year won the national committeeman slot over former Lt. Gov. Bernie Jackvony. Jackvony said yesterday of Manning, "He's over his head."

But Manning did not sound to me as if he felt out of his element or eager to leave the spotlight. Indeed, he reminded me a lot of Laffey -- confident, cool, and pleased with himself.

M. Charles Bakst, The Journal's political columnist, can be reached by e-mail at mbakst [at] projo.com