Mass. Dems Back Warren in Crushing Vote

Elizabeth Warren won her state party's endorsement today without a runoff and gave a fiery speech to about 3,500 Democratic delegates in Springfield, Mass. “If that’s all you’ve got, Scott Brown, I’m ready,” said the Senate candidate, referring to accusations that she has claimed American Indian ancestry unfairly to boost her academic career. “And let me be clear. I am not backing down. I didn’t get in this race to fold up the first time I got punched.”

Warren's nomination was a foregone conclusion, but rival Marisa DeFranco, an immigration lawyer, needed only 15% of the vote to force a runoff. Intensive lobbying and the support of Gov. Deval Patrick crushed even that chance, leaving DeFranco with less than 5% of the vote, the New York Times reports. Supporters hugged DeFranco on the convention floor as the results came in, says the Boston Herald. “The primary process exists," said DeFranco. "If we don’t want to have a primary, shut it down." (More Elizabeth Warren stories.)