Rumours of an Elizabeth Warren Senate challenge to Republican Scott Brown (R-MA) grew Thursday as the champion of consumer protection penned a suggestive op-ed in the democratic blog Blue Mass Group.
Addressing Massachusetts voters, Warren gave a brief overview of her life story including a description of the fiscal constraints her family faced during her early childhood, her time in Washington establishing CFPB, and her desire to continue helping the middle class.
Lacking other strong candidates, liberals across the country have been hoping to take back the late Ted Kennedy’s seat, won by Brown via special election in early 2010. While still in Washington back in May, Warren was reportedly encouraged to run by both Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the number 1 and 3 ranking Senate Democrats, respectively.
In the post, first reported by The Boston Globe, Warren says that, “It is time for me to think hard about what role I can play next to help rebuild a middle class that has been hacked at, chipped at, and pulled at for more than a generation–and that that is under greater strain every day.” She goes on to invite everyone, regardless of party affiliation, to share their ideas with her on how to fix our “broken political system”.
However, for all the excitement Warren generates on the left, Brown has done an effective job remaining popular as a Republican in a seat held by “liberal lion” Kennedy for over 40 years. Brown has positioned himself as a moderate republican, most recently breaking party ranks to vote for the Reid deficit plan on July 29th during the debt ceiling negotiations.
Its paid off well for him back home with approval ratings averaging 56 percent and disapproval down below 30 percent. Brown also heads into next year with a sizable campaign war chest, holding over 9 million in cash with no debt.
While in Washington, Republicans worked tirelessly to block Warren’s appointment to run the Consumer Affairs and Protection Bureau, including holding a series of hearings by the House Oversight Committee which resulted in a legislative duel between her and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). Last month, President Obama withdrew his nomination of Warren, rather than force a recess appointment.
