The National Rifle Association has dropped an $18,000 mailing against former Sen. Dan Coats, the  national GOP’s favorite to replace retiring Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN). Coats voted for the Brady bill and the Clinton crime bill that the contained the assault weapons ban. The postcards come amidst rumbling that Coats might not be able to count on NRA support against the likely Democratic nominee, Rep. Brad Ellsworth.

In fact, the mailing notes that Coats’ two main Republican opponents, former Rep. John Hostettler and state Sen. Marlin Stutzman, both boast high NRA ratings. The postcard also praises Ellsworth for having a “perfect” pro-gun record and having won the NRA’s support in his 2008 House re-election race.