Candidate's desperate attempt to distract from terrible fundraising quarter backfires, serious questions emerge about Guinta's judgment and the viability of his campaign

CONCORD - FEC reports show that Congressional hopeful Frank Guinta received a donation from a major insurance company PAC the day before publishing an Op-Ed supporting their position on health care reform. 
 
In a possible attempt to distract from the questionable timing of the donation, Guinta went on the offensive Friday issuing a press release touting his fundraising numbers and attacking his Democratic opponent, Carol Shea-Porter, for being beholden to special interests.
 
But the release backfired on Guinta - drawing attention to his ties to the insurance industry and to the fact that the Congresswoman outraised Guinta for the second consecutive quarter.  The attack by the floundering Guinta campaign is even more bizarre given that, unlike Guinta, Congresswoman Shea-Porter does not accept corporate PAC contributions.  
 
The release, which flies in the face of reality, has raised serious questions about Guinta's judgment and the possibility of a quid pro quo.
 
"Frank Guinta is getting desperate," said Derek Richer, Press Secretary for the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  "Clearly, he is trying to distract from his poor fundraising numbers and floundering campaign."
 
"But what is most troubling is his questionable ties to the insurance industry," Richer continued. "Did Frank Guinta write the Op-Ed in exchange for a donation?  If so, how can the people of New Hampshire trust that he will put their well-being before Washington special interests."
 
This is not the first time Guinta's judgment has come into question during the campaign.  In June he left the scene of a brawl at a local private social club without calling the police.  For weeks Guinta came under fire for not telling the whole story of his involvement in the brawl, which resulted in one Manchester resident going to the hospital.
 
Additionally, Guinta's record as Mayor of Manchester has posed serious problems for his campaign.  Guinta ran on a platform of cutting taxes, improving education, and reducing crime.  But under his tenure as mayor, crime increased, the schools are in shambles, and taxes have gone up not down.
 
The latest Guinta controversy comes on the heels of a strong fundraising quarter for one of his primary opponents, Bob Bestani, and the announcement that Rich Ashooh, a Vice President of BAE Systems, is considering entering the race as well.
 
"Between barroom brawls, Guinta's history of poor judgment, and his terrible record as mayor it's no wonder he is having such a difficult time fundraising," continued Richer.  "All of this is raising serious questions about the viability of his campaign.  And Bestani's strong fundraising quarter and Ashooh talking about entering the race suggest the GOP is getting nervous about a Guinta candidacy too."