"Unprecedented enthusiasm"??? By whom? California movie stars? "National" figures? Obama? How about we give a real Massachusetts candidate the full and fair opportunity to compete for a Massachusetts Senate seat? It's frustrating to see out-of-state money buying these nominations...give a born and bred MA Democrat the opportunity she earned under the rules! It's bad enough that the last national election produced a movie star President, who can't seem to remember who turned out to support him; we don't need to make the same mistake with this election.

Philip Johnston and Democrat elite should be ashamed of themselves for castigating Marisa DeFranco in her senatorial bid. This very sense of entitlement is actually hurting Elizabeth Warren. If DeFranco can get Warren to come clean on racial preferences, minority set asides and quotas, then democracy will be well served. Warren's failure to confront the central criticism of her nascent campaign is "a suicidal exercise."

Is Tin Lizzy "too big to fail"?

Warren is not ready to beat Brown. She needs to learn from a race with DeFranco and more practice debating and campaigning before the big test in November. Warren's war views and stand on issues has to be more out there for her to challenge Brown.

Congratulations, TSW, you actually completed a post without a single LOL! I knew you could do it if you tried really hard.

Brown supporters should consider sending Marisa a few bucks if she makes it onto the ballot just for the entertainment/mischief factor. Cheap at the price.

Doesn't sound like the democratic party is acting very democratic. If Ms. DeFranco is so insignificant, then they should have no problem allowing the process to go forward. Elizabeth Warren's run is being marred by her lies, fraud and plagiarism. Sounds like the democratic party should be standing behind Ms. DeFranco and NOT Ms. Warren.

I Luv Liz Warren and will definitely vote for her. I admire Marisa DeFranco for her guts. This preliminary battle, although it will cost $, maybe exactly what Liz Warren needs to toughen up for the general election.

Marisa: YOU GO GIRL!!

The Native American thing isn't distracting her why should an opponent?

The real question is which of the Dem candidates is the biggest loon. Liz Warren is a liar, cheat and fraud. The other one is just a complete moonbat.

Scott Brown has been an awful senator, an embarrassment to the state. He has no ideas of his own, and whenever faced with a complicated issue waits until the last minute for his advisers to tell him which way to pander. Everything's a cynical political calculation. He's a fraud. I'll vote for anyone but him come November.

I find it curious that this article uses the word "unprecedented" twice in a matter of a few paragraphs. In what context is this campaign "unprecedented". Again, I wish the Globe still has their ombudsman to mitigate the "cheerleading" by the newspaper. If used twice there should be some proof on how this is "unprecedented".

Yes, you go and help Scott Brown beat Elizabeth Warren. Apparently your ego is more important than the good of the State or the Country.

Cherokee people Cherokee tribe.

Those who think there's no enthusiasm for Elizabeth Warren clearly aren't involved in the political process--certainly not with the Democratic Party. In the past three months hardly a day goes by when I don't get some kind of pro-Warren mail, text or phone call from people all over the state. The harm in not giving Warren the nomination at the convention is that the party must then remain neutral until after the primary in September--a whole summer of campaigning lost.

If deFranco is denied at the convention, will she run 3rd party? if she gains a spot in the primaries, will Republicans enroll as Democrats, and vote for her? There have been suggestions that this would be done to Romney during the Republican primaries. The winners will be local media, harvesting Hollywood $$$$ locally.

The race between Brown and Warren is going to be very close, according to the polls. I guess deFranco is playing the suicide candidate, taking herself and her party down the tubes. One of the HUGE problems common among liberals with their diverse views is the inability to coalesce around a single candidate. Too many think that no loaf is better than half of one. It's extremely egocentric and selfish.

One wonders if Mr. Phillips is reporting or indulging in giving his own opinion. Unfortunately it is bordering on gossip. The reason. Nothing has happened yet that either confirms or denies something is going to happen in the future. To report a reporter needs something in either of these directions. There is no secret that the primary is a scheduled event and there are 2 candidates running. Each will have their say at the Convention in Springfield, a vote of the delegates will be taken, and there will be a result. Until then we should hear about the positions of each candidate, their qualifications, and about their campaign efforts. This is what should count in terms of how elections are won or lost. This other crap is just that, crap. Citizens should be encouraged to run for a position not have detours and roadblocks that discourage qualified candidates from running. If reporters were serious about introducing candidates to the public they would not wait until the last minute to do so or focus on horse race issues. We need enlightenment not conjecture. This article is pure guesswork.