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.

GINGRICH IN NH. With his profile and penchant for controversy as high as ever, Newt Gingrich will return to New Hampshire for the first time in nearly three years at the end of the month.

The Granite Status has learned that Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker and author of the mid-1990s "Contract with America," will keynote a "Grassroots Communications Conference" sponsored by businessman Fred Tauch's self-funded STEWARD watchdog organization on Jan. 30.

The daylong event is scheduled to be held at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester.

Gingrich has been mentioned often in recent Washington blogs and political columns as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2012, although he has said little on the subject himself and has dodged the question when asked directly about any presidential plans.

He last visited New Hampshire in the spring of 2007 for a book signing and to organize workshops for a nationwide "Solutions Day" that his 527-group, American Solutions for Winning the Future, held in September of that year.

Gingrich can been seen almost nightly on one news network talk show or another commenting on health care, the war on terrorism, the Obama administration and the state of the GOP.

In New Hampshire, he'll join other speakers at the conference in talking about "emerging methods of communications to reach voters, constituents and activists," according to STEWARD.

In a release to be issued later this week, STEWARD, an acronym for Save The Economy Without Accumulating Record Debt, says the conference "will empower participants to disseminate a conservative message, organize and mobilize online."

Gingrich noted in a statement released to the Granite Status that in the summer of 2008, American Solutions "gathered the signatures of 1.5 million Americans who supported our 'Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less' campaign in support of offshore drilling, an online grassroots achievement that created the momentum that led to the repeal of the executive and legislative branch bans.

"I look forward to discussing with New Hampshire conservatives how to utilize new media to drive our message of safety, prosperity and freedom and spur people to demand real change from their government," Gingrich said.

Other speakers so far scheduled for the conference are Andrew Breitbart, publisher of Breitbart.com and Breitbart.tv, and Stephen Gillett, Starbucks' Digital Ventures senior vice president, chief information officer and general manager.

Concord political strategist Michael Dennehy, a consultant for STEWARD and Tausch, called Gingrich "the pre-eminent creative thinker in the Republican Party. We could not ask for a better national figure to help underscore the importance of new media communications in campaigns and public advocacy today."

Dennehy said Gingrich "should always be considered a potential presidential candidate because of his history as Speaker of the House, his leadership in electing Republicans and his continued involvement in public policy."

The event is free and open to the public but space constraints will limit attendance to about 500, Dennehy said. Those attending must register first at www.STEWARDofProsperity.org.

BIG YEAR FOR ANN. Democratic 2nd District U.S. House candidate Ann McLane Kuster wrapped a big fundraising year by raising about $206,000 in the final quarter of 2009, her campaign says.Her year-end fundraising total is $550,000, contributed by 1,200 donors, according to campaign manager Colin Van Ostern, who called it "a clear sign of the broad and deep grassroots support" she has attracted across the district.

Since becoming a candidate last summer, Kuster has out-raised all congressional candidates for either seat, including Democratic 1st District incumbent Rep. Carol Shea-Porter and GOP 1st District candidate Frank Guinta.

Kuster is being opposed in a 2nd District Democratic primary by state Rep. John DeJoie while activist Katrina Swett has indicated she may soon enter the race.Jennifer Horn is the only announced Republican candidate for the 2nd District seat, while former Rep. Charles Bass is exploring a run and is expected to become a full-fledged candidate.Van Ostern said that more than 850 of Kuster's 1,200 donors are New Hampshire residents living in more than 100 different communities in the district.Van Ostern said Kuster's year-end cash on hand total is still being calculated and is not yet available. At the end of the third quarter on Sept. 30, Kuster reported $260,000 on hand.The campaign this week has also updated its Web site, www.kusterforcongress.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE - The Granite Status column originally published Dec. 31, 2009, continues below.

2010 IS ALREADY HERE. Frank Guinta, soon to be out as mayor of Manchester and in as a full-time congressional candidate, provides a good illustration of what to expect as the political calendar turns to another non-stop, pedal-to-the-metal election year in New Hampshire.

The Republican is planning a seven-week RV tour of the 1st District, beginning in Bedford on Jan. 21 and ending at a yet-to-be-determined location on March 11, with town halls in between in Conway, Dover, Rochester, Londonderry and Wolfeboro.

Guinta's "Let's Talk Frank About ... Tour" will focus on a different topic (fill in the blank) at each town hall and coffee shops and other "retail" stops. He has so far scheduled 60 appearances in 39 cities and towns.

It's an aggressive schedule, and an example of how intense the political scene will become very early on.

It follows a barrage of almost daily snail mail and e-mail fund-raising by Guinta and others in advance of today's end-of-year federal fund-raising deadline.

So, get ready. New Hampshire's never-ending political theater is headed for a historic 2010.

No matter which way the electoral arrow turns, there is potential for unprecedented developments.

By the end of 2010, the state would have its first all-female congressional delegation if Kelly Ayotte wins the Senate race, Carol Shea-Porter wins reelection in the 1st Congressional District and if Jennifer Horn, Ann McLane Kuster or Katrina Swett prevail in the 2nd District.

Judd Gregg will be heading for the exit of elective politics after three decades on Capitol Hill or at the State House, and there is a chance the state will choose to have two Democratic U.S. senators for the first time since Thomas McIntyre and John Durkin served simultaneously in the late 1970s. An all-Democratic congressional delegation is also not out of the question, as wins by Paul Hodes, Shea-Porter and Kuster or Swett are far from longshots.

And lost in the noise surrounding the Senate and House races is the fact that Gov. John Lynch enters 2010 favored to make history with a fourth consecutive term. He is expected to seek reelection, and state Republican Party Chairman John H. Sununu's biggest challenge entering the year is to come up with a strong candidate to oppose him, exploit his perceived vulnerabilities on tax, spending and social issues and, if not defeat Lynch, at least give a strong enough top-of-the-ticket showing to prevent a third consecutive Democratic sweep.

Republicans also feel they have a strong chance of winning back the state Senate and closing the current 222-175 (with three vacancies) Democratic edge in the state House, if not winning it back.

But as the party in power, the Democrats will not play defense in New Hampshire, as some of their counterparts appear to be doing elsewhere in the country.

After losing 17 state House seats in the 2008 election, the NHDP is expected to refocus there and continue its efforts to maintain, or grow, its 14-10 edge in the Senate.

Already the state Democratic Party has tried to influence the GOP U.S. Senate primary, attacking front-runner Ayotte daily with thinly veiled promotion of conservative Ovide Lamontagne and businessman Bill Binnie.

Hodes has been on the offensive on health care reform, with his campaign marketing his aggressive approach to the media here and in Washington.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is already providing early funding for Hodes. It spent $27,864 in coordinated expenditures in November, on top of $42,600 directly contributed to his campaign.

Shea-Porter, targeted by national and state Republicans, faces a rough ride to November, but big money from the National Democratic Campaign Committee is expected to offset the national GOP funding heading this way for Guinta, who's won the early favor of the Washington establishment and has so far escaped the "establishment" label that has dogged Ayotte.

Guinta is expected to soon have primary opposition in the person of BAE Systems vice president Rich Ashooh, who told us yesterday that while he's "still in the exploration phase," his district-wide travels have him "more and more convinced that I've got something to offer in 2010. But I'm going to be deliberative about it."

The Democratic Party enters an election year for the first time as the majority party, with the latest official figures showing it with 270,316 registrations and 268,716 GOP registrations, both far behind the 385,222 independent, or undeclared voters.

THE NEW GOP. Can Sununu harness the energy building from the libertarian wing of the GOP, the tea party movement and the like?

"True Republicanism" will probably be the over-arching theme of the Senate and 2nd District U.S. House primaries, assuming former Rep. Charlie Bass, a moderate, makes his candidacy official, as expected, and goes against conservative Horn.

While New Hampshire has not been a "libertarian" state, the movement is gaining force with the rise of groups such as Citizens for Sensible Legislation and the Republican Liberty Caucus of New Hampshire.

Andy Demers, chairman and founder of CSL, suggested the national GOP watch New Hampshire.

"We have an active wing of the Republican party and a lot of good, independent candidates and activists," he said.

Will this "liberty wing," as Demers calls it, move as a bloc in the Senate primary? If so, will Ovide Lamontagne be the beneficiary?

Demers says it's not so simple.

"A lot of people and the media are trying to imply that the primary races in New Hampshire and Kentucky are 'insiders versus outsiders,' and 'establishment versus non-establishment.' But there are a lot of things in play."

HEADING TO KENTUCKY. That said, Demers confirmed he is leaving the state temporarily to become the No. 2 staffer in Rand Paul's GOP Senate campaign in Kentucky.

Demers, who will be political director, said he had no idea if his hiring is related to the recent resignation of Paul's campaign coordinator, Christopher Hightower, after he was linked to racist images, including a lynching photo, that appeared on a Kentucky political blog.

Demers said he did not know what Hightower's responsibilities were, and so could not say if he is replacing him in any way.

Demers is the former state director of absentee balloting for the Republican National Committee Victory '08 program and a staffer for Ron Paul's 2008 presidential campaign in New Hampshire.

FIRST TEST. The first big test of the new political year will come in the state Senate District 16 special election to succeed Manchester's new mayor, Ted Gatsas.

Two Republicans, Rep. David Boutin and former Rep. Terry Pfaff, will face off in a primary on Jan. 12, with the winner facing the only Democratic candidate, Rep. Jeff Goley, on Feb. 16.

The district consists of Manchester wards 1, 2 and 12, and the towns of Bow, Candia, Dunbarton and Hooksett, and according to the latest figures from the Secretary of State's Office, Republicans hold a 14,121-to-12,494 registration edge, with 12,540 undeclared.

The initial fund-raising reports show Goley positioned well for the general election, having raised $30,185 and spent only $620, with $29,562 on hand. Boutin raised $24,172, spent $7,773 and has $16,449 on hand, and Pfaff raised $10,274, spent $2,958 leaving $7,316 on hand.

Big-name Republicans who contributed to Boutin include Gregg's White Mountain PAC, $100; state Sen. Jeb Bradley's committee, $250; ad executive Patrick Griffin, $500; Steve and Susan Duprey, $500; former state Sen. Bob Clegg, $500; and attorney Chuck Douglas, $500.

GOP U.S. Senate candidate Bill Binnie and his wife, Nina gave Boutin $500.

Former Gov. Craig Benson gave $1,000 to Pfaff, while Lamontagne's wife, Elizabeth, gave $250.

Other Pfaff donors included Gatsas's Senate committee, $1,000; former Rep. Richard "Stretch" Kennedy, $1,000; Kimon Zachos, $100 and former Rep. Henry Mock, $100.

SULLIVAN'S PRAISE. Candidates often use positive commentary from newspapers or blogs in their own campaign e-mails to prospective supporters to generate interest and contributions.

But GOP Senate hopeful Binnie took an unusual approach. This week, his campaign blasted out an e-mail using former state Democratic chair Kathy Sullivan's Dec. 16 post on BlueHampshire.com analyzing the New Hampshire Union Leader's report that state GOP executive director Paul Collins, a long-time aide for party chairman Sununu and his son, former Sen. John E. Sununu, would become the Binnie campaign's senior strategist beginning next week.

Under the heading, "Binnie Can Win," the e-mail uses Sullivan's entire post, in which she says the hiring shows Binnie's campaign is credible and that there is "dissatisfaction" in the GOP with Ayotte.

Sullivan also wrote that Collins' hiring brings with it "close contact with both of the Sununus. While Sr. is unable to take sides, officially, Jr. is a free agent. What if Collins is able to bring John E. Sununu to the Binnie table?"

The e-mail concludes with a link to Binnie's web site.

Why would Binnie use Sullivan to self-promote?

As one key Republican put it, "They should know that everything about Kathy Sullivan's public comments is strategically calculated to improve the lot of Democrats. If Kathy Sullivan says nice things about a Republican, there's a good reason for it, and that reason does not have much to do with helping a Republican win a seat.

"I can't understand why the Binnie folks would want to broadcast that out there publicly," the Republican said. "Clearly, Collins hasn't started over there yet."

But Binnie campaign manager Bryan Lanza said Sullivan "is a politically astute figure in the state and we felt it was newsworthy. We thought that some of our supporters would be interested in it."

Although Sullivan is partisan, "We didn't view it in terms of party affiliation but as someone who is looking at the landscape and seeing that Bill Binnie has been gaining momentum. What she wrote confirms what many Republicans have been saying."

Lanza said Sullivan's view that the addition of Collins may increase the chance of a John E. Sununu endorsement is simply her opinion, but, he said, "We're doing everything we can to bring everyone we can along with us."

LEACH MOVES UP. John H. Sununu, meanwhile, has promoted party director of operations Andy Leach to be the Republican State Committee's new executive director, replacing Collins.

Leach, 34, has been in his current post since March and had been executive director in 2006 under then-chairman Wayne Semprini.

He also worked on the younger Sununu's campaign in 2008 after working in his Senate office. Leach also worked on former Sen. Gordon Humphrey's campaigns for governor in 2000 and 2002.

Sununu, who received commitments from Leach, field manager B.J. Perry and party spokesman Ryan Williams to remain with the state party through the 2010 election cycle, said the party "is lucky to have such depth and talent."

RISING STAR RYAN. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., ranking member of the U.S. House Budget Committee and a rising star fiscal conservative, will come to the state on Feb. 26 for a series of fundraisers.

He will headline receptions for the state GOP and a combined event for the Manchester GOP and Young Republicans, with locations to be determined.

PASS THE HAT. Ayotte has led the fundraising barrage in the past two weeks leading to today's end-of-year deadline for federal campaigns, with three e-mails in the past week.

On Tuesday, she linked a fundraising request to the Christmas Eve passage of "budget-busting" health care reform legislation, and on Dec. 22, she wrote that she would have voted no on the bill, so please "help send Washington and Paul Hodes a powerful signal" by contributing.

Lamontagne on Monday sent a strongly worded request complaining about the Sen. Ben Nelson "Cornhusker Kickback" in the health care bill and touting his recent appearance on Laura Ingraham's radio talk show, in which she called him "the only true conservative" in the Senate race.

Democratic 2nd District House hopeful Ann McLane Kuster says in this week's fundraising plea that in early 2010, she will expand her campaign Web site, organize supporters into a "grassroots team" and hire new staff.

Shea-Porter's donor solicitation on Monday repeats her often-stated rule that she does not accept "any business or D.C. lobbyist money."

NEW POLL. The American Research Group will have a new poll out today showing Hodes trailing both Ayotte and Lamontagne in sample balloting.

Interviewing 566 registered New Hampshire voters Dec. 26 to 29, ARG found Ayotte leading Hodes, 43 to 36 percent with 21 percent undecided, and Lamontagne leading Hodes, 37 to 31 percent with 32 percent undecided. The margins of error is listed at 4 percent.

DOG BAN ON TRACK. It appears the state is ready to outlaw greyhound racing.

House Bill 630 which essentially reauthorizes horse racing in the state but writes greyhound racing out of existing statutes, is expected to be passed by the House, perhaps as soon as its first 2010 session next Wednesday.

If the bill passes the state Senate, which is more uncertain, New Hampshire will become the 11th state to repeal previously existing authorization of greyhound racing.

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