Trump tweets endorsement of Lee Zeldin re-election bid

Rep. Lee Zeldin got a Twitter endorsement and shout out from President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

"Congressman Lee Zeldin is doing a fantastic job in D.C. Tough and smart, he loves our Country and will always be there to do the right thing. He has my Complete and Total Endorsement!" Trump wrote.

The Shirley Republican, making a bid for a third term, retweeted the comment.

Zeldin has embraced Trump in his re-election bid, defending him on cable news shows and featuring a number of administration figures and Trump family members at campaign events and fundraisers.

Perry Gershon, Zeldin's Democratic opponent, said Trump's comment was a sign Zeldin was in trouble.

"TFW your favorite puppet's district is slipping away," Gershon, an East Hampton businessman, tweeted. "TFW" is online shorthand for "that feeling when." Gershon also emailed a fundraising pitch to supporters highlighting Trump's tweet.

While the 1st Congressional District has traditionally swung between Democrats and Republicans in often razor-thin elections, Zeldin won the district in 2016 by 16 percentage points. Trump won the district by 12 percentage points.

Zeldin spokesman Chris Boyle pointed to work Zeldin has done with the president on issues including MS-13, moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel and withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal.

"Congressman Zeldin is looking forward to continue working with the president and colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find common ground however possible in pursuit of solutions that will improve the lives of his constituents and all Americans,” he said.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently added the race to its top tier of targeted seats to flip in November.