"Manchester" is the two-part third-season premiere of the American political drama television series The West Wing.

The episodes deal with President Bartlet's decision to run for re-election, and the activities of the weeks leading up to his official announcement.

Both parts were written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Thomas Schlamme, and the episodes contain the first appearances by Ron Silver, Evan Handler and Connie Britton.

[2] The episode picks up at the press conference immediately where last season's cliff-hanger ("Two Cathedrals") left off, and what was then only implicit is here made clear: President Bartlet is running for a second term.

From that point on the story develops in dual storylines, one following immediately upon the press conference, the other taking place four weeks later, as the staff is preparing for the official campaign announcement in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Bartlet's wife Abbey is not pleased with the President making his bid for re-election without consulting her, but later decides to join him in Manchester.

The town was said to have the "quiet streets, a mix of mostly older architectural styles, fieldstone fences, and breathtaking views of rolling countryside" that the show was looking for.

[6] The hotel that the staff stayed in and is in the background of some of the scenes in the episode is The Red Fox Inn in Middleburg, VA.[citation needed] The house chosen – out of 55 contenders – to pass as the president's farmhouse, was the home of Purcellville mayor John Marsh.

[11][12] Jenny Halper, writing for UGO, was less than impressed with the pre-season special episode, and wrote that "the season really kicks off" with the "flashback intensive" "Manchester"-episodes.

[13] Britt Gillette, of The DVD Report, counted "Manchester Part I" among the more dramatic episodes on the show, with special reference to C.J.