Robert Allen Mansfield dropped his Republican gubernatorial candidacy at a press conference Monday and said he will continue his campaign as an independent.

Mr. Mansfield, a black conservative from Philadelphia, had no political background before embarking on his campaign for the governorship and has, thus far, generated little money or media coverage. He has not been included in joint media appearances by the four Democrats and two Republicans seeking the office.

Robert Allen Mansfield speaks at the Capitol on Monday morning.

The candidate said he was disillusioned by the lack of conservative principle within the GOP and eluded to the seemingly close relationship of Democrats and Republicans in the state power structure. He called loudly in the Capitol Rotunda for citizens to "Rise up. Rise and take back our state."

He said the governorship is achieved by "deals and cycles, rather than merit and will." He added the Republican and Democrat parties "have been infiltrated by progressives" who have sapped "the moral fiber" of state government.

Government has become "corruption, under the guise of freedom," he said.

The 39-year-old Army veteran said he and his supporters will begin gathering petition signatures for his candidacy on Wednesday.

Jim Panyard is a reporter for the Pennsylvania Independent.  He can be reached at Jim@PAIndependent.com