President Obama endorsed this morning Scott Murphy, the Democratic candidate in the special election to replace Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) in the House. Murphy is locked in a tight race with Republican Jim Tedisco in the upstate 20th District of New York, with just less than a week to go until the March 31 election.

Obama won the 20th District by 3 points in November, and Gillibrand defeated a Republican challenger by 24 points.

Obama sent an e-mail to supporters announcing his endorsement and asking for last-minute volunteers. "What you do now can make all the difference as we work in the coming weeks and months to lead our country in a new direction," Obama wrote.

Here is the press release provided by the Murphy campaign:

"Scott Murphy is the right candidate for Upstate New York to turn the economy around and create jobs,” said President Barack Obama.

“Scott has the right experience, with a record of creating real, high-paying jobs in Upstate New York. Now he's ready to go to Washington to continue that work alongside me and Democrats and Republicans in Congress. He has shown he's willing to take a stand for the people in his district by supporting the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to get Upstate New York's economy moving again.”

“Not only will Scott Murphy be a strong ally in creating jobs and stabilizing the economy, he also shares my commitment to improving health care, bringing our schools into the 21st century, and pushing for openness in government and responsible budgeting.”

“Scott Murphy will follow in the footsteps of Kirsten Gillibrand by delivering for Upstate New York, and I look forward to working with him in Congress.”

“I could not be more honored and humbled to have the President's support,” said local businessman Scott Murphy. “I look forward to working with the President as well as Democrats and Republicans in Washington to implement his recovery package, help create jobs Upstate, and ultimately get our economy back on track.”