Massachusetts: New Poll Shows Scott Brown, Elizabeth Warren Tied

A new poll showed Sen. Scott Brown tied with his Democratic challenger as the campaign winds down. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

A new poll in the bitterly fought Massachusetts Senate race found Sen. Scott Brown (R) tied with Democrat Elizabeth Warren. In a horse-race matchup among likely voters, including those who lean toward Brown or Warren, each candidate took 47 percent.

The survey, conducted for the Boston Globe by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, found 54 percent of those polled had a favorable impression of Brown, while 37 percent saw him unfavorably. Forty-nine percent saw Warren, a Harvard University professor and consumer advocate, favorably while 42 percent had an unfavorable view of her.

A number of earlier polls found Warren leading.

Roll Call rates the race as a Tossup.

The poll surveyed 583 likely Bay State voters by live telephone interview from Oct. 24 to 28.  It had a margin of error of 4.1 points.

The Sandy Effect on the Elections

(NOAA/Getty Images)

Updated 6:03 p.m. | Hurricane Sandy looks to pose a serious threat to life and property in the eastern United States, but the storm’s timing means it is also likely to have an effect on the last week of the 2012 campaigns.

Prolonged power outages could cause some changes in the way that people cast their ballots come Election Day.

“No matter what happens, we will proceed with the election. If polling places need to be moved or consolidated there are legal ways to do that and we will be in constant touch with local election officials to coordinate that,” Av Harris, a spokesman for the Connecticut Secretary of the State, said in an email.

Harris said that in Connecticut, the office has good coordination with the local power company.

“Worst case scenario if there is no power and power cannot be restored, the optical scan machines can run on battery power or else under a truly worst case scenario where the battery power for the optical scanners was depleted, we could have voters fill out paper ballots, drop them in the secure boxes, and election officials can count them all by hand,” Harris said. “Not an ideal situation by far, but we can do it if we need to.”

Sandy is still days away from landfall, but the storm is already having direct effects on the presidential race.

The Obama campaign has canceled a planned appearance by Vice President Joseph Biden in Virginia Beach on Saturday. GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney is scratching a Sunday appearance at the Farm Bureau Live amphitheater in Virginia Beach, Va. But the Associated Press is reporting that a Romney event scheduled for Sunday in Prince William County is still on. President Barack Obama is scheduled to appear at a campaign event Monday with President Bill Clinton in Prince William County, Va.

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) and Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) are among those who have already declared states of emergency as Sandy approaches.

“Due to the track of this storm, and the fact that it will be a hurricane transitioning into a more nor’easter like system, we could see severe weather lasting for 48 hours or more in the state. In that scenario, saturated soil coupled with high winds could lead to major tree damage and extensive power outages,” McDonnell said. “Now is the time for all Virginians to prepare for those possible power outages and disruptions to public services.”

Virginia is the closest presidential battleground state likely to be affected by Hurricane Sandy’s landfall, but the storm appears poised to wreak havoc along the eastern seaboard north into New England. New Hampshire is another presidential battleground state, and there are several Northeastern states with close House and Senate races that will face storm impact.

Utility companies up and down the East Coast have announced they are bringing in extra crews from out of the area to prepare for what they expect may be a lengthy effort to restore power to customers after the storm rips through with tropical-storm-force winds. Some of the power companies, including Connecticut Light & Power, have faced ridicule from lawmakers for their past efforts to get power back.

“We’re closely monitoring weather forecasts and preparing for high winds and heavy rain that can devastate the electric system and cause power outages,” said Bill Quinlan, a senior vice president with CL & P. “The past year has been all about improving storm response, and we stand ready to respond as quickly and safely as possible. While we hope for the best, we all need to prepare for the worst.”

The National Weather Service guidance is warning of a storm with the potential for a historic impact.

“The deterministic guidance … show pressure solutions well beyond what has ever been observed near the New Jersey/New York coast (even exceeding the 1938 Long Island Express hurricane) early in the medium range period,” the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center said today. That hurricane is a reminder of the history that the northeastern United States has with hurricanes.

It would seem to be difficult, if not impossible, to have active Congressional campaigns, even in states with Tossup Senate races such as Connecticut and Massachusetts, during massive power outages. Nor, of course, would people without electricity see all the campaign ads being run by campaigns, political action committees and other outside groups.

Massachusetts: Scott Brown Hits Elizabeth Warren on Medicare; Warren Hits Back

Sen. Scott Brown talks with senior citizens during a visit Friday to Fenno House in Qunicy, Mass. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

QUINCY, Mass. — Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) arrived last week here at Fenno House, an assisted and independent living facility, in his famous GMC truck with a package of sausage and a message about Medicare.

He handed the sausage, in a brown paper bag, to a member of Fenno House’s staff. “They’re frozen,” Brown said. “Give ‘em to the kitchen. I just got them down in Brockton, but I’m not going home.”

And then Brown went into the activity room of the facility. Fenno House serves people who are 62 or older, and Brown spoke to an audience of almost exclusively senior citizens about cuts to the beloved entitlement program. Full story

Max Cleland, Inspired by Bobby Kennedy, Looks to Young Joe

Joe Kennedy, the Democratic candidate for Massachusetts' 4th district, former Sen. Max Cleland and Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren appear at a rally at Laborers Hall in Hopkinton, Mass. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

HOPKINTON, Mass. — Former Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.) told the story here on Saturday of how he came to politics. It began with an undergraduate, floundering at Stetson University, who came upon a picture of fellow students meeting then-Attorney General Robert Kennedy.

As Cleland, a triple-amputee Vietnam War veteran who served in the Senate from 1997 to 2003, spoke about the spark of inspiration that photo lit in his mind, Kennedy’s grandson, Congressional candidate Joe Kennedy III, stood behind him.

Cleland, 70, on a tour of events in support of Democratic Senate nominee Elizabeth Warren, took a few minutes to reflect on the meaning of Kennedy, 32, introducing him. And then he gave the candidate, running for the open seat in the 4th district, his endorsement.

“Hearing Joe talk about public service, I wouldn’t be here at all without some of his forebearers,” he told a rapt audience. Full story

Political Stars Light Up Massachusetts Campaign Trail

Photo by Tom Williams/ CQ Roll Call

MELROSE, Mass. — Top Senate surrogates descended on Massachusetts this weekend to stump for their party’s candidates and gin up excitement in the competitive Senate race and rough and tumble Congressional contest here.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) this morning stood shoulder to shoulder with Sen. Scott Brown (R) on a stage surrounded by hundreds of sign-waving supporters.

After Brown gave a fiery version of his stump speech, McCain took the microphone. “I’ve been traveling the country for various candidates,” said McCain, who received a hero’s welcome of loud and sustained applause. “This man is the one I want most in the United States Senate working side by side.”

Later, McCain smiled and shook hands on stage with Congressional candidate Richard Tisei, who had spoken earlier. Full story

Massachusetts: Elizabeth Warren Raises $12.1 Million to Scott Brown’s $7.45 Million

Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren outraised Sen. Scott Brown in the third quarter. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) raised $7.45 million in the third quarter, while Harvard professor and consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren, his Democratic opponent, pulled in an eye-popping $12.1 million from July 1 through Sept. 30.

Brown’s campaign said he ended the quarter with $10.2 million in cash on hand. Warren’s campaign did not say how much cash she had in the bank at the end of last month.

Quarterly fundraising reports are due to the Federal Election Commission today.

Recent polls have shown the Bay State Senate contest to be close. Roll Call rates the fiercely fought race as a Tossup.

Massachusetts: Scott Brown Aides Mock Elizabeth Warren With Indian Chants

Staffers for Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) have been caught on tape engaging in conduct often viewed as offensive by Native Americans.

WCVB in Boston released video this morning showing Greg Casey and Jack Richard, Brown’s deputy chief of staff and constituent service counsel, respectively, engaging in tomahawk chops and chanting ”war whoops” during a rally this week in Boston, according to the TV station.

The video shows the two staffers and other Brown supporters mixed among a crowd of supporters for Brown and his Democratic challenger, Elizabeth Warren.

Massachusetts: Dueling Ads About Elizabeth Warren’s Heritage in Senate Race

(Bill Clark CQ/Roll Call File Photo)

Republican Sen. Scott Brown today launched an attack ad against Elizabeth Warren, his Democratic opponent, about her claims of Cherokee heritage. Warren later hit back with an ad of her own.

Brown’s spot, his first to go negative, spliced together a series of TV news reports about the revelation that Warren, a Harvard University professor and consumer advocate, claimed Native American ancestry intermittently during her academic career. Full story

Massachusetts: Harry Reid Cancels Votes So Scott Brown Can Debate

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today accused his GOP counterparts of trying to hold votes later this evening to shield Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) from debating his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Warren.

“I’m sorry. We have no more votes today. It’s obvious to me what’s going on. I’ve been to a few of these rodeos,” Reid said. “It’s obvious there’s a big stall taking place. One of the Senators who doesn’t want to debate tonight won’t be in the debate. Well, he can’t used the Senate as an excuse. There will be no more votes today.”

Brown and Warren, whom Reid urged to run for Senate, are set to debate each other for the first time at 7 p.m. today.

Full story

Massachusetts: Boston Mayor to Endorse Elizabeth Warren

Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren will be endorsed by Boston Mayor Tom Menino Friday. (Bill Clark CQ/Roll Call File Photo)

UPDATED 4:30 p.m. | Boston Mayor Tom Menino (D) will endorse Democratic Senate nominee Elizabeth Warren Friday, the Boston Globe reports.

For months, Menino had been mum on his decision about an endorsement in Warren’s race against popular Sen. Scott Brown (R). But according to local media reports, he will support his party’s nominee.

Menino, Boston’s longtime mayor, controls a juggernaut get-out-the-vote operation in the state’s largest city. Earlier this month, he told reporters that when he backs a candidate, he gives it his all.

“When I get [into] a campaign, I never do it half-baked,” he said. “I do it all the way.”

And, in the end, Menino and Warren belong to the same party.

“He’s going to pull out all the stops because it’s good for the Democratic party,” said Massachusetts Democratic consultant Scott Ferson.

Roll Call rates the Massachusetts Senate race as a Tossup.

Massachusetts: Elizabeth Warren Leading Scott Brown in Recent Polls

(By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

In an email to supporters in February, Sen. Scott Brown (R) wrote: “I know I am the underdog in this race.” For the first time in his fiercely fought contest with Democratic nominee Elizabeth Warren, the data supports his assertion.

Warren led Brown in a series of recent polls. A nonpartisan Western New England University poll of likely voters conducted Sept. 6-13 found Warren leading by 6 points, 50 percent to Brown’s 44 percent. A nonpartisan Suffolk University poll of likely voters conducted Sept. 13-16 found Warren leading Brown by 4 points, 48 percent to 44 percent. And a poll from the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling conducted Sept. 13-16 found Warren leading by 2 points, 48 percent to 46 percent. Full story

Democratic Convention Loves Elizabeth Warren

Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren addresses the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Democrats love Elizabeth Warren. The Massachusetts Senate hopeful took the stage here tonight to a welcome befitting the superstar she is among the Democratic base.

“War-ren, War-ren, War-ren,” the crowd roared.

And the applause and cheers for her only grew louder as she addressed the huge crowd at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Warren, a Harvard professor and consumer advocate, delivered a strong speech. She introduced herself to the prime-time television audience, lauded President Barack Obama and knocked Mitt Romney’s economic plans.

Warren spent most of her speech empathizing with the struggle of middle-class Americans, telling them that the system was “rigged” against the little guy. But Warren assured the audience in the arena and in living rooms across the United States that, unlike Republicans, she and Obama had their backs.

But even as Warren’s speech was greeted with raucous applause here and is sure to be a boon to her already extraordinary fundraising, Democrats back in Massachusetts are increasingly worried about her campaign against Republican Sen. Scott Brown. While Warren has the enthusiastic, unwavering support of the her party’s base, her strength among the rest of the Bay State’s electorate is less certain.

Full story

Elizabeth Warren Invokes Edward Kennedy; Tom Menino Mum on Senate Race

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Harvard professor Elizabeth Warren invoked the memory of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (Mass.) in remarks to the Bay State’s Democratic delegation here, a day before she is set to take the stage at the Democratic National Convention.

Warren, hoping to unseat Republican Sen. Scott Brown, recalled a long meeting she had with Kennedy in the mid 1990s about bankruptcy and its effect on working families. She talked about Kennedy’s decade of work against a bankruptcy reform bill that she said wasn’t in the interest of working people.

“Ted Kennedy changed my life,” Warren said. “He changed how I understood what it is that a public servant does. And I think of him in this race every single day. And I come to this convention and I think of him every single hour.” Full story

In Tampa for Mitt Romney, Scott Brown Offers Nuanced Endorsement

(Chris Maddaloni/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

TAMPA, Fla. — Republican Sen. Scott Brown, running for re-election in Democratic Massachusetts, came here today and offered a carefully framed endorsement of former Bay State Gov. Mitt Romney, the GOP presidential nominee.

“I’m here because it’s a special day for Massachusetts,” Brown said to a gaggle of reporters in a hotel meeting room not far from the Tampa Bay Times Forum where Romney will officially accept the Republican White House nod. “Whether they be Democrat or Republican, it’s good for Massachusetts when one of our own rises to this level.”

Brown said his presence was “important” because it showed “a pro-choice, moderate Republican” was a part of the GOP’s “big tent.”

“While I don’t agree with everything in the platform and/or with Gov. Romney, I have a lot of respect for him,” Brown said.

Full story

Republicans Pile On Criticism of Todd Akin’s Rape Comment

Sen. Scott Brown (above) called on Rep. Todd Akin to relinquish his Senate nomination after his controversial remarks about rape. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

On day two of the media firestorm around Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-Mo.) comments about rape, the Republican Senate nominee is discovering that his harshest critics are not Democrats, but members of his own party.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) was restrained in her criticism of her opponent this morning on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” The incident has breathed new life into her campaign for re-election.

Instead, it is Republicans in tough fall races who are piling on:

Full story