John DiStaso, the New Hampshire Union Leader's senior political writer, began writing "Granite Status" in 1982. His influential reports on behind-the-scenes politics in the first-primary state are must reading every Thursday for insiders from Concord to Washington, D.C. Watch for "Granite Status" updates on UnionLeader.com whenever New Hampshire political news breaks.

WHO'S GIVING TO WHOM? With third quarter federal fundraising reports now public, details are now emerging and charges are flying.

In the 2010 U.S. Senate race, Democratic Rep. Paul Hodes, running for the U.S. Senate, raised $585,296 in the third quarter and $1.5 million since the election cycle began last November.

His quarterly funds-raised number trails Republican Kelly Ayotte's $613,111, although he ended the quarter with nearly twice as much money on hand as she did, $1.1 million to $563,121.

Hodes' report shows he received $451,926 in the quarter and $1.1 million since the November 2008 election from individuals. He received $133,370 in the quarter and $393,797 in the past year from PACs.

Ayotte's report shows that $485,911 of the $613,111 she raised in the quarter came from individuals and $127,200 came from PACs, including $10,000 from Texas Sen. John Cornyn's Alamo PAC.

Cornyn chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee and has said the NRSC is not endorsing Ayotte, who will face GOP primary opposition. Opponents have not raised enough money to be required to file reports.

The Democratic Party is charging that since Ayotte received some contributions from various GOP Senate leadership PACs, she is "beholden to Washington Republican insiders."

Ayotte's campaign calls the charge laughable since Hodes has long received contributions from liberal interest groups and Democratic leadership PACs.

Ayotte campaign manager Brooks Kochvar said 18 percent of Hodes' individual contributions came from New Hampshire, as compared to 75 percent for his candidate.

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CAROL AND FRANK. Looking at the two front-running 1st District U.S. House candidates, $32,100, or 23 percent, of the $141,282 raised by incumbent Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in the quarter came from PACs and $109,143 came from individuals.

For the year, however, $157,083, or nearly 42 percent, of the $374,854 she raised was PAC money.

Her PAC contributions in the quarter included $2,500 from the SEIU (State Employees International Union), $2,500 from the International Association of Fire Fighters, $5,000 from the machinists union PAC, $2,500 from AFSCME, $1,000 from the Treasury Employees PAC and $500 from the NEA.

She also received money from Democratic leadership PACs, including $1,000 from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's A New Directions committee and $1,000 each from PACs run by Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Jerrold Nadler of New York, Grace Napolitano and Xavier Becerra of California, John Larson of Connecticut as well as $7,000 from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's PAC to the Future, and $2,000 from Reps. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii.

Of the $109,143 she raised from individuals, our review showed about $45,000 came from New Hampshire residents.

Republican Frank Guinta's $126,049 raised for the quarter included a single PAC contribution of $2,500.

It came from the CIGNA insurance company committee on Sept. 29, the day before a Guinta op-ed in the New Hampshire Union Leader and on UnionLeader.com promoting a free market approach to health care.

The state Democratic Party contends Guinta's writing was strikingly similar to CIGNA statements in a 2007 company position paper.

The Guinta campaign labels as ridiculous the Democratic charge that Guinta is somehow promoting CIGNA'S position in return for a favorable op-ed.

Of the $123,549 Guinta raised from individuals, $95,549, or 77 percent, came from New Hampshire donors.

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ODD MAN OUT? Exeter conservative state Rep. Lee Quandt says he won't go along with what he perceives as a GOP hierarchy power play.

The Republican had made it known he was prepping for another run for the District 23 state Senate seat when he heard from an old friend, former state Sen. Russell Prescott, who had been gearing up to run for the District 3 Executive Council seat.

But that changed when Chris Sununu, the 34-year-old son of John H. and younger brother of John E., decided to check out a run for the council.

Quandt tells us he heard last Thursday night from Prescott "telling me that Chris Sununu was going to run for the council and he would be running for the Senate."

Quandt said Prescott didn't ask him not to run.

Quandt, the GOP nominee in 2008 who lost to Democrat Maggie Hassan by about 4,400 votes, said he told Prescott if he decides not to run, he would support Prescott, "but I'm going to keep my signs and go from there.

"We're 13 months out, but I'm still in the Senate race," said Quandt, who said he intends to run an "anti-establishment campaign.

"When the odds were almost insurmountable to take back this seat," said Quandt, "I was the only one who stepped up to be sure (Hassan) did not run unopposed."

Chris Sununu confirmed that he is "strongly considering" a run for the council seat now held by Democrat Bev Hollingworth and will make a decision within the next several months. He said he has no preference on who runs for the Senate seat.

"Obviously, being in the family and growing up with the surroundings I did, politics have been part of my life," he said. He said he is "building a career," but also considering when the timing is right for a first run for elected office.

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GIUDA RAMPS UP. As Republican 2nd Congressional District hopeful Bob Giuda ramps up a campaign, he confirmed yesterday that "people supporting my candidacy" are seeking an endorsement for him from former presidential candidate Ron Paul.

Giuda says that while he does not agree with all of Paul's position, he likes that Paul is considered a pariah by the party establishment. Giuda said his campaign style will be similar to Paul's.

"He is a force not to be taken lightly," said Giuda, "and I think that some of what he says is very relevant."

Giuda said that while out on speaking engagements, "There is a strong undercurrent of rebellion against the party structure, and it's a dynamic that can't be ignore and is justified.

"People want representation, and not through the filtration process of party politics," Giuda said.

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BINNIE RAMPING UP. Republican businessman Bill Binnie is expected to make an announcement about a likely run for the open U.S. Senate seat a week from today.

Binnie has brought on three staffers, according to his new spokesman, Bryan Lanza, a consultant formerly based in California.

Binnie has also been making lots of calls to Republicans about his expected candidacy and, we understand, has been telling people that he intends to begin advertising on television and possibly radio as early as January 2010.

"He's throwing out numbers on how much he's willing to spend," said a Republican, "and they're big numbers."

Ayotte will formally announce her Senate candidacy on Saturday afternoon at the Bicentennial Elementary School in Nashua.

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SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY. Former state Sen. Bob Clegg, now a lobbyist, says he is organizing a new association to support small businesses, which he's calling the Small Business and Small Industry Association.

Clegg said paperwork was filed for the non-profit on Monday at the Secretary of State's office.

"Limited liability corporations and partnerships got hurt in the last state budget," Clegg said, "and will now be able to speak with one voice.

"It will be just like the restaurant association," he said, "and will focus on small business and especially the taxation of small businesses."

He said the group will focus on the Legislature's move earlier this year to raise $30 million by repealing an LLC exemption from the interest and dividends tax.

Clegg said that as a result of the legislative action, the Department of Revenue Administration now not only taxes LLCs under the business profits tax, as it always has, but it then taxes any "payment" the ownership takes for itself under the 5 percent interest and dividends tax.

He calls it unfair and says the $30 million estimate is unrealistically high.

Clegg said the new association is necessary because small businesses are receiving little or no help from other business groups.

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THE GOP'S CENSUS. "Do not destroy. Official document" is written on the envelope.

Inside are several papers, headed by "2009 Congressional District Census," and then in smaller print, "Commissioned by the Republican Party."

The new mailer, which looks like a government census document, turns out to be a national GOP voter ID/fundraising solicitation being sent to GOP voters (although we know of at least one registered Democrat who received one) nationwide.

The packet contains a three-page letter from RNC chair Michael Steele, and then a four-page "census" questionnaire covering the recipients' political profile and a host of issues.

And on the back is a request for contributions, to be returned in a "business reply mail" envelope.

The GOP says it's not trying to fool anyone.

"The only aim of this document is to gather Republican opinion from across the country and raise money," says RNC spokesman Gail Gitcho.

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QUICK TAKES:

-- It's very early, but pencil in the name of GOP activist and state Rep. Fran Wendelboe as eyeing a run for the District 2 state Senate seat next year. Other Republicans considering candidacies are Jim Forsythe in District 4 (Sen. Kathleen Sgambati's seat) and Fenton Groen in a possible rematch against incumbent Jackie Cilley in District 6.

-- Former state Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen, while considering whether to run for office next year, continues to meet with governors and legislatures in other states on a variety of issues. This week, he was in South Carolina attending a roundtable meeting on unemployment insurance hosted by embattled Gov. Mark Sanford. According to an Associated Press report, Stephen told the group that this year, 41 states will be borrowing money to keep unemployment insurance benefits flowing.

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John DiStaso is senior political reporter of the New Hampshire Union Leader.