Elizabeth Warren's D.C. Support Draws Ire of Rivals

Elizabeth Warren brought in an eye-popping $3.15 million for her Senate campaign in the third quarter, a total that doubled that of Republican Sen. Scott Brown and dwarfed the hauls of her rivals for the Democratic nomination.

The competition seems to have taken notice, particularly of the roughly $17,000 given to her campaign by the PACs of congressional Democrats who see Warren as crucial to their hopes of retaining control of the Senate after the 2012 elections. 

Sen. John McCain sent out a fundraising email to Republicans on behalf of Brown on Tuesday, warning that "the Democrats are coming after Scott with everything they've got." 

McCain's email continued (via the Boston Globe): "The Reid-Pelosi establishment in D.C. also went out of their way to recruit Harvard Professor Elizabeth Warren to run against him. Warren and her special interest allies have already raised more than $3 million for her campaign coffers. With her class warfare rhetoric and her anti-capitalism views, Elizabeth Warren has the ability to raise millions of dollars from the far left fringe who are attempting to divide the country right now. that's why Scott needs your help." 

As the New York Times notes, the"class warfare" angle is one that Brown's allies have increasingly attempted to play up. In a new web video, the Massachusetts Republican Party paints Warren as a divisive figure who blames "employers, business people, risk takers, job creators, you." 

Massachusetts Democrats challenging Warren for the chance to take on Brown in next year's general election have, as expected, steered well clear of the class warfare attacks. But they appear less than pleased with the establishment support that Warren is getting so early on in the nominating battle.

"Why have a Massachusetts primary when the Washington, D.C., insiders have already held their own and elected Elizabeth Warren," Scott Ferson, a spokesman for Alan Khazei's Senate campaign, complained to the Boston Herald.