O’Connor targets Guinta with direct mail

Political newcomer Shawn O’Connor is taking advantage of Congressman Frank Guinta’s self-inflicted woes with a direct mail piece introducing himself to voters as “the right candidate to send Frank Guinta home – for good.”

O’Connor, the test prep entrepreneur who is financing his campaign with $500,000 in personal funds, is the only announced Democratic candidate for Guinta’s first district seat. In an email to Miscellany Blue, campaign spokesperson Joshua Bruner noted the mailer has been in the works for over a month. The “timing was completely unrelated to the FEC’s conciliation agreement with Congressman Guinta,” he wrote.

Whether or not Guinta’s name will even be on the ballot for the next congressional election is, of course, an open question – as is the timing of that election.

Guinta has thus far resisted calls for his resignation from many of the state’s Republican elected officials. U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, the state’s highest ranking Republican, was the first to urge the congressman to step down after an FEC investigation determined Guinta funded his 2010 campaign with an illegal $355,000 contribution from his parents.

If Guinta does resign, a special election will be held to fill the vacancy. Democrat Carol Shea-Porter, who held the seat before losing to Guinta last year, has reportedly expressed interest. Boston Globe reporter James Pindell has identified 18 Republicans whose names are “floating around” in speculation that Guinta might not serve out his full term.