BOSTON\u2014Harvard Law professor and consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren officially launched her Democratic campaign for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, hoping for a chance to take on Republican Sen. Scott Brown in next year’s election.<\/p>\n
Warren, who greeted commuters at a subway station in Boston before embarking on a tour of the state, cast herself as fighter for the middle class, saying she’s “stood up to some pretty tough folks over the past few years.”<\/p>\n
“There’s been a lot of very powerful interests who have tried to shut me down, squeeze me, push me sideways and so far it just hasn’t worked,” Warren said. “I’m willing to throw my body in front of a bus to try to stop bad ideas that are going to be harmful to the middle class.”<\/p>\n
Warren was heavily courted by Democrats hoping to win back the seat long held by Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died in 2009 after a long battle with brain cancer. Democrats are also trying to hold onto their narrow Senate majority by ousting Brown.<\/p>\n
Warren was tapped by President Barack Obama last year to set up a new consumer protection agency, but congressional Republicans opposed her leading the office. She returned to Massachusetts this summer.<\/p>\n