In a mail piece sent to Republican households this week, the campaign of Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-16) hit his Republican Primary opponent hard, tying her to what he cited as a failed administration.

Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno had seven plus years to get the job done as Gov. Chris Christie’s number two.

It didn’t happen, the piece alleges.

“Under the Guadagno-Christie administration, we are going in the wrong direction,” the piece notes.

Confronted with the mail piece, Assemblyman Minority Leader Jon Bramnick (R-21) bristled.

“Anytime either of these candidates attacks Chris Christie, it takes the heat off Democrats, who have blocked his reforms,” said the Republican leader. “They have had control of the legislature for 15 years, and an attack like this on the administration just continues to do what the media does: give the Democrats a pass.”

For her part, Guadagno has routinely avoided events where she might appear onstage with Ciattarelli, and since the convention season has kept her attacks focused on Democratic front-runner Phil Murphy. The maneuvers have caused Republican sources to conclude that the LG has decided to focus her energies on the fall general election campaign.