Poll: Scott Brown leads Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts

Republican Scott Brown of Massachusetts addresses reporters during a news conference at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston days after his stunning Senate victory. (Charles Krupa / Associated Press / January 20, 2010)

By Kim Geiger

February 17, 2012, 1:03 p.m.

Reporting from Washington —

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, whose upset victory in early 2010 marked the moment when many started to take the tea party movement seriously, leads his likely 2012 Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren by 9 percentage points, according to a new survey of voters.

Brown has 49% support compared with Warren’s 40%, according to a Suffolk University poll released Thursday.

Warren, whose reputation as a consumer advocate has made her the darling of progressive activists, holds a commanding lead over her Democratic challengers for the party’s nomination, which will be decided in the primary election Sept. 6.

But she has been unable to win the support of independents, who make up more than half of Massachusetts’ voters. Sixty percent of independents support Brown while 28% support Warren.

“Scott Brown’s popularity and appeal are overpowering the efforts of Elizabeth Warren, who struggles to introduce herself to the larger pool of Massachusetts voters,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center in Boston. “Warren’s support does not have traction among independents.”

Nearly two-thirds of independents also believe there is a benefit to having one Democratic and one Republican senator representing Massachusetts. As a whole, 60% of general election voters agreed that split party representation was beneficial.

Sen. John F. Kerry, a Democrat, is the senior senator from the state. Brown won the seat occupied for nearly half a century by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat.

Brown is also well-liked by voters, with 52% giving him a favorable rating compared with 28% unfavorable. Warren’s favorability is considerably lower -- 35% -- but like Brown, just 28% view her unfavorably.

The survey of 600 registered voters was conducted Feb. 11-15 using live telephone interviews.

kim.geiger@latimes.com

Comments (3)

Add / View comments | Discussion FAQ

kfstewart at 6:38 PM May 12, 2012

I have searched in vain but can't find anything in the LAT about Democrat sociaiist Warren continuous lying, to this day, about being part Indian, as well as scamming the affirmative action system. Yet even a quick search pulled up 5 articles how Republican Romney was a "gay bully" in high school. Great unbiased journalism, LAT!

Chattaboogie at 3:20 PM February 29, 2012

Yes, the beautiful Scott Brown. One wonders if Ella Fitzgerald could make it in the music business these days when the visual trumps the aural. I am paraphrasing here but, it seems to me that Warren's main point is that no one makes it totally on their own. They, or their employees have used the transportation and distribution infrastructure, the education system, even Public Safety - and someone had to pay for that (and at a higher rate than the current fees). Good for them that they are wealthy or creators of jobs - and by all means, keep much of what you have and good for you - but pay some forward to preserve the infrastructure and the opportunities for others in this great land.

GregMaragos at 1:51 PM February 17, 2012

"Warren, whose reputation as a consumer advocate has made her the darling of progressive activists..."

An interesting way to characterize Warren, indeed.

From the very beginning, she has run a campaign with the scarlet banner of class warfare fully unfurled, declaring out-and-out war against ANY business, company or private enterprise engaged in the highly offensive act of making a profit. Yes, they pay their taxes, but, clearly, in Warren's eye, they simply aren't paying enough.

This goes well beyond the normal liberal mantra of "soak the rich". It dives head-long into the realm of "stick it to ANYBODY in the private sector making ANYTHING at all". Government workers, naturally, are exempt from this call to shared sacrifice.

Even in cobalt-blue Massachusetts, such siren calls to mete out social justice (but really revenge) via taxation policy is failing to resonate--a sobering thought to Democrats running for reelection (especially in the U.S. Senate) who might want to consider distancing themselves from a weak and fiscally undisciplined president.

Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. The Times makes no guarantee of comments' factual accuracy. Readers may report inappropriate comments by clicking the Report Abuse link next to a comment. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.