The Hill News

Consumer protection advocate Elizabeth Warren has opened a small lead over incumbent Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in the Bay State’s high-profile Senate race, a rebound for Warren after a pair of polls last month showed Brown nearing a double-digit lead.

Warren was the choice of 46 percent of Massachusetts voters surveyed, while Brown garnered the support of 41 percent, according to the Democratic polling firm Public Policy Polling.

Warren’s advantage comes from making headway with independents in the heavily Democratic state. Brown only leads Warren 48 percent to 36 percent among those who do not affiliate with a party, down from his 2-to-1 advantage over former Democ! ratic nominee Martha Coakley in 2010. The centrist Brown will need to improve his margins among swing voters while holding on to his Republican base â€" 9 out of 10 GOP members plan to vote for his reelection â€" to stay competitive.

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