Republican Carl Paladino's campaign for governor was in damage control mode on Saturday, as it was trying to downplay critical remarks the candidate made upstate earlier in the week about New York City.

During a campaign stop in Hornell, N.Y. on Tuesday, Paladino said he liked Queens and Staten Island because they are just like upstate New York. He then said, "That leaves Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn, and they can have them."

Paladino's campaign manager Michael Caputo said that the candidate was responding to a question about the logistics of traveling in New York City, and not what he thought of the three boroughs, which are home to 30 percent of New York State's population.

Last month, the Buffalo businessman was quoted as saying negative remarks about the residents of Manhattan in a newspaper profile.

Speaking on NY1's "Inside City Hall" this past Monday, Paladino defended those comments.

"I'm talking about the ruling elite, that's where they're from. This ruling class of people, no matter what the party, are all from Manhattan," said Paladino. "They're smug, they're elitist, they're wealthy, they have guilt for the wealth they have accumulated and they want the downtrodden, they want them taken care of, but not on their nickel."

Paladino, who made a trip to the Bronx just last month, has been rising in the polls.

He faces off against former Long Island Congressman Rick Lazio in the GOP primary on September 14.