(CNN) New York Rep. Kathleen Rice is backing Pete Buttigieg for president, she told CNN, giving the South Bend, Indiana, mayor his third congressional endorsement.

The endorsement, Buttigieg's second in the past two days, comes as the Democratic presidential candidate has surged to the top of the field in Iowa and has seen his poll numbers rise in New Hampshire. Despite his improved standing in the race, Buttigieg still lags behind his top competitors in congressional endorsements.

NEW YORK, NY: Member of the United States of House of Representatives from New York Kathleen Rice. (Photo by Ben Hider/Getty Images for Concordia Summit)

Rice said in an interview on Monday that she is backing Buttigieg for the Democratic nomination because he is the "only candidate whose message is focused on addressing both our long term and short-term challenges that we face."

"The thing that I admire about him is that he's done it not by over promising things and pandering to the base and he doesn't use divisive rhetoric or my way or the highway approach," Rice said, in a thinly veiled swipe at Buttigieg's more progressive competitors like Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. "He's really demonstrated an unmatched ability and a willingness to reach voters where they are from across the political spectrum."

Rice told CNN's Bianna Golodryga on "CNN Right Now" Buttigieg "gives a message that resonates with everyone across this country."

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