Poll Shows Warren Leading Brown, Negative Ratings Up

A new poll of 567 likely voters in the U.S. Senate race in Massachusetts shows a mixed bag for Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren.

The poll, released Sunday by the Western New England University Polling Institute, shows Warren leading Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Scott Brown among likely voters, 50 to 45 percent. The survey, conducted Sept. 28 - Oct. 4, has a 4.3 percent margin of error.

However, Warren's unfavorablility rating is now 41 percent — eight percentage points higher than the same poll three weeks ago.

Poll director Tim Vercellotti say the rise is partly due to Brown's attacks on Warren's character.

"When we asked people what is the most important issue to you, 18 percent of Brown supporters say the morals, ethics, or personal integrity of the candidate," Vercellotti said. "Eight percent of Warren supporters say the same."

The poll also showed Brown’s unfavorability rating rose by 4 percentage points.

Vercellotti says the impact of advertising on the race cannot be discounted.

"People say, 'No, no, no they don't matter at all, I focus on the issues,' " Vercellotti said. "But the reality is they do have some impact, otherwise candidates wouldn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars on campaign ads."

Brown and Warren will face off in their third debate Wednesday in Springfield.