U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, picked up the endorsement of the nation's second-largest seniors' group while courting votes in what has shaped up to be a tightly contested race.

Bishop, who is running against Republican state Rep. Mike Keown of Coolidge, has thumped Keown through his campaign for what he contends is Keown's support for a push to privatize federal programs like Social Security and Medicaid.

Monday, Bishop took his message to the seniors, pledging to shield Social Security and Medicare from attempts at privatization.

"I have been there, fighting with them, (seniors) and for them on Social Security and Medicare issues and pledge to continue to do so if elected," Bishop said.

Read more: Albany Herald