Fundraising numbers show surprising new Republican in race against Rep. Shea-Porter

Frank Guinta could be in trouble.

The Manchester mayor was a highly touted GOP recruit to run against Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), but he has been dogged by less-than-stellar fundraising. And now, a lesser-known and newer Republican candidate has leapfrogged Guinta's fundraising pace.

Businessman Rich Ashooh's campaign will report raising more than $200,000 in about eight weeks in the first quarter. Guinta, who was in the race for most of 2009, raised $300,000 in three quarters last year.

“When Rich Ashooh files his first quarter fundraising report, it will show that he has raised over $200,000 in the last eight weeks (which is) more than any other N.H. candidate for Congress has raised thus far during a single quarter in the 2010 campaign cycle," said an adviser to Ashooh's campaign, Jamie Burnett.

Guinta is also expected to face a well-funded challenger in another recent entry -- Republican National Committeeman Sean Mahoney.

First-quarter numbers aren't yet available for Guinta and Mahoney.

Ashooh's total was first reported by NHPoliticalReport.com.

UPDATE 1:23 p.m.: Guinta's campaign now tells the website that his receipts in the first quarter will be $250,000 -- though it appears that number could include a sizeable loan from the candidate.