President Barack Obama endorsed Democrat Zephyr Teachout Monday in the tight race to win New York's 19th Congressional District, according to a release from Teachout's campaign.

Calling Teachout an "independent fighter" and citing her work to “create an economy that works for everyone in this district," the president said he was proud to endorse Teachout. She's facing off against Republican John Faso to replace outgoing GOP Rep. Chris Gibson.

“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," Obama said. "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.”

A poll of likely voters in the district conducted in late September by Time Warner Cable News and Siena College showed Teachout and Faso were in an almost dead heat in the district, which includes all of Ulster and Sullivan counties.

That same poll showed that 48 percent of voters in the district had a favorable opinion of Obama and 50 percent had an unfavorable impression of him. For likely voters who identified as independents or "other," 43 percent saw Obama as favorable and 53 percent as unfavorable. The margin of error on the poll was plus or minus 3.8 percent.

Teachout returned the praise to the president, in the campaign's release.

“Barack Obama has been an outstanding fighter for middle class families,” Teachout said. “In Congress, I’ll continue working to protect Social Security and Medicare, invest in our schools, and bring jobs back to the Hudson Valley.