Warren, Brown in Tie For Mass. Senate Election: Poll Finds Strengths and Vulnerabilities for Both

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A new poll commissioned by UMass Amherst puts Massachusetts Democrat Elizabeth Warren in a statistical dead heat with Republican Senator Scott Brown in a potential match-up next year. But it also charts significant opportunities - and vulnerabilities, for both candidates.

The online poll of 500 adults conducted last month gives Warren - a Harvard economist -- a lead of 43 percent to Brown's 39 percent - within the surveys 4.4 percent margin of error. UMass political scientist Brian Schaffner says that could mean trouble for Brown. He notes that while Brown holds a  significant 18 point lead over Warren among independents -- Republican Charlie Baker's fate in last year's gubernatorial election shows brown will need to hold on to every one of those independents, and then some.

The poll shows that Brown fares very well in Boston's suburbs and central Massachusetts  where independents and Republicans are stronger - while Warren holds a a big lead in Boston itself - and western Massachusetts.

The poll charts one characteristic Brown might turn to his advantage. Asked to describe the candidates in a single word, the most common word to describe him was "moderate". Two the three most common used for Warren were "liberal," and "socialist." the other was "intelligent." warren easily bested her opponents in the democratic primary with 73 percent of likely democratic voters saying she was their pick.