The Mary Beth Buchanan camp has apologized to the NRA for twice using their logo in a recent mailer -- a mailer that GOP opponent Keith Rothfus is calling "desperate and deceitful."

Buchanan -- who is running against Rothfus for the GOP nomination to face Jason Altmire in the 4th congressional district -- received an "AQ" rating from the gun lobby, based on her answers to a questionnaire. As the mailer (pictured above) says, that is the top rating that a non-incumbent without a record on gun votes can receive -- Rothfus got the same rating from the powerful group.

The camp for the former US Attorney never said she was endorsed by the NRA -- where she went wrong was in using the NRA logo. Under NRA bylaws, no one can use the logo in print except the group itself, spokesperson Alexa Fritts said. They sent a cease-and-desist email to the Buchanan camp this week on the matter.

"Buchanan, whose campaign has steadily been losing what little momentum it ever had, is clearly desperate—but that is not excuse for perpetrating a fraud on the electorate," the Rothfus campaign said in a news release. "The last thing we need in Washington is another lying politician desperate to win votes and advance their own career, and that is precisely why Keith Rothfus stands poised for a victory on Tuesday."

Buchanan campaign manager Mike Walsh sent along the NRA's May 5 rating letter and repeated the campaign's apologies, before striking back at the Edgeworth attorney. "When will Rothfus start telling voters why they should vote FOR him? Not just against Mary Beth?," Walsh responded.