Confronted with state Senator Nick Sacco’s (D-32) response to Assemblyman Craig Coughlin’s (D-19) support list, a source told InsiderNJ that the South Jersey/Middlesex is prepared to go after more legislative seats in order to pad what they insist is Coughlin’s edge.

Specifically the source said the Assembly Majority is prepared to “go all in and go crazy” in LD16 to ensure that not only incumbent Assemblyman Andrew Zwicker (D-16) wins but to block the Republicans from defending that second assembly seat, which currently belongs to retiring Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-16).

Democrat Roy Freiman of Hillsborough is running with Zwicker, and trying to pick off what Ciattarelli – a candidate for governor in the GOP Primary – leaves behind. Freiman is jousting with Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire, a Republican from Montgomery running for the long-GOP-held Ciattarelli seat on a ticket with former Assemblywoman Donna Simon and ticket top dog state Senator Kip Bateman (R-16).

InsiderNJ sought a powerful Democratic Party source on the subject of LD16 and asked whether Democrats would shower the district with money in order to pick up not just one vote for Coughlin – for Zwicker is already a committed backer of the Woodbridge assemblyman’s promotion – but two votes in what would be the suddenly steroid muscle popped up Freiman.

“Depends,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “If [Kim] Guadagno is the Republican candidate, the seat will be in play. If Ciattarelli is the gubernatorial candidate, it is less winnable.”

A third source contributed the following:

“Everybody is watching the targeted districts,” said the Democrat, acknowledging Ciattarelli’s strength as a candidate, especially in his home district. “If Guadagno is the candidate, we’re going to drive a Mack truck in there and drive over Republicans in those districts.”