Republican Senator Scott Brown leads in a new poll of the Massachusetts senate race, but his chief rival Elizabeth Warren is within the margin of error. The Western New England University poll showed that 47 percent go for Brown versus 42 for Warren in a trial heat. Independent voters, which make up a large portion of the MA electorate, split solidly for Brown, who picks up 57 percent to Warren’s 32. Brown still retains a high favorability rating among state voters, and Warren’s is positive as well, but she is far less known.
The poll also asked if Mass. registered voters thought the fact that Warren is a Harvard Law School professor made them more or less likely to support her. Only 13 percent said that fact made them less likely to, 21 percent said it would be them more likely, and 63 said it would make no difference at all.
Warren’s day job has been a point of attack for Republicans in the state, who asked Harvard to stop paying Warren when she officially became a candidate.
