In what is easily the most competitive and most-watched House race in New York this fall, a New York Times/Siena College poll released Monday shows freshman Rep. John Faso, R-N.Y., clinging to a wafer-thin 44-43 percent edge over Democratic challenger Antonio Delgado.
A day after the poll was released, President Donald Trump issued a surprise tweet of endorsement for Faso — with whom he has never been close.
"Strong on Crime, Borders and our 2nd Amendment," he tweeted. "John is respected by all. Vote for John. He has my complete and total Endorsement!"
The same survey showed Independent candidate Diane Neal and Green Party nominee Steve Greenfield at 5 and 1 percent respectively, with 7 percent still undecided.
The 19th District has been the subject of so much press attention because it has virtually the same number of Republicans and Democrats. Two years ago, moderate-to-conservative Faso, a former state Assembly Republican leader and 2006 GOP nominee for governor, won the district 54-46 percent.
Attorney and first-time candidate Delgado, who is frequently characterized by supporters as the next Barack Obama ("He even looks like Obama!" one area Republican told us) has raised twice as much money as the incumbent.
Tuesday's endorsement aside, Faso, who has a generally conservative record and is also listed on the ballot line of the New York Conservative Party, has long been careful about associating himself with President Trump.
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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