Warren Makes First Steps On Potential Senate Bid

Consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren is taking steps toward a possible challenge of Republican Scott Brown, the U.S. senator from Massachusetts and a top Democratic target in 2012.

The 62-year-old Harvard law professor began contacting top Massachusetts Democrats on Thursday about a potential candidacy. A Democrat close to the national leadership told The Associated Press she plans to make a decision after Labor Day and will spend the next few weeks talking with voters and party activists. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about Warren's plans, and requested anonymity.

National Democrats desperate to find a strong challenger to take back the Massachusetts seat long held by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy have been urging Warren to run. At President Obama's request last year, Warren set up a new consumer finance protection office.