President Barack Obama endorsed on Monday Democratic 19th Congressional District candidate Zephyr Teachout.

“I’m proud to endorse Zephyr Teachout for the United States House of Representatives,” Obama said in a statement. “In Congress, Zephyr will be the kind of reform-minded leader we need to build on all of the progress we’ve made over the last eight years to create a stronger, fairer country for our children. Zephyr is an independent fighter for working families, and will help create an economy that works for everyone in this district, not just the wealthy and well-connected. In Congress, I know that Zephyr will fight for independent businesses, be an advocate for ending the influence of secret money in our political system, and stand up to the big polluters that threaten our fragile water resources. I know that families throughout upstate New York can count on Zephyr to stand up for them, too.”

Teachout is running against GOPer John Faso in the race to replace retiring Republican Rep. Chris Gibson.

The race was nearly deadlocked according to a late-September Time Warner Cable News/Siena College poll.

How helpful an Obama endorsement is for Teachout is open for interpretation. While he enjoys a high favorable-unfavorable rating among Democrats in the 19th district (85-15, according to that TWC News/Siena poll), he has slightly negative numbers among independents (43-53) and all voters (48-50). Of the three regions broken down in the poll, Obama has a positive favorable-unfavorable rating in only Ulster and Dutchess counties, which is Teachout’s base (55-41).

Teachout also notably has the support of former Democratic presidential nominee Bernie Sanders.