Elizabeth Warren leads Scott Brown in new poll

Elizabeth Warren ahead in poll, Rick Santorum selling (sweater vests) well, Rice not interested in being vice president, and FreedomWorks making its first House endorsements.

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WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED:

* Harvard Law Professor Elizabeth Warren has a slim lead over Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in a new survey from the Democratic-leaning firm Public Policy Polling, 46 percent to 41 percent. A string of recent polls had shown Brown pulling ahead; this race will almost certainly stay very close until November.

* Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will speak at a conference on the role of the internet in the transformation of Cuba, co-hosted by the Heritage Foundation and Google Ideas. He’s also headlining a South Carolina GOP fundraiser on May 19, despite his repeated claims to have no interest in running for VP.

* The Nebraska GOP is challenging the residency of former senator Bob Kerrey in court in hopes of keeping him off the primary ballot. Kerrey, who lived in New York for years, is now hoping to win back his old Nebraska Senate seat. Secretary of State John Gale (R) already rejected a complaint from the GOP concerning Kerrey’s residence.

* Missouri state Auditor Tom Schweich (R) will not run against Sen. Claire McCaskill (D), a move that would likely have helped state Treasurer Sarah Steelman in the crowded GOP primary. He had the support of some top Republicans in the state but said he thought a contentious four-way primary would only help McCaskill.

* Sounding suspiciously like a parody of himself, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney told an employee at Google’s Chicago office today, “That’s a big lava lamp, congratulations.” Romney was participating in a Google+ Hangout, his second of the cycle.

WHAT YOU SHOULDN’T MISS:

* The conservative PAC FreedomWorks has announced its first slate of 2012 House endorsements: Adam Hasner in FL-22nd, Martha Zoller in GA-09, Joe Walsh in IL-08, Jackie Walorski in IN-02, David McIntosh in IN-05, Rep. Steve King in IA-04, Andy Barr in KY-02, Rep. Jeff Landry in LA-03, Ann Wagner in MO-02 and Keith Rothfus in PA-12. The most notable pick is Landry, a freshman challenging four-term Rep. Charles Boustany in the GOP primary after losing his territory to redistricting.

* Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum’s campaign claims to have sold over 3,000 sweater vests. They’re no longer for sale on his website (Rick Santorum would never want you to dress out-of-season), but at one point they were going for $100 a pop.

* Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is not interested in being Romney’s running mate. “I think we should go another direction and find somebody who really wants to be in elected office,” Rice said. “How many ways can I say it? Not me.”

* Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who last year called the budget proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) ”right-wing social engineering,” in a statement today called the congressman’s new budget plan “courageous.”

* President Obama’s campaign called a joke made by Robert DeNiro at a fundraiser last night “inappropriate.” The actor quipped at an event starring Michelle Obama that America might not be “ready for a white first lady.” Republicans seized on the remark, with Gingrich calling on Obama to apologize.

* Richard Hudson, a North Carolina Republican aiming to oust Rep. Larry Kissell (D), is out with a clever new ad comparing Congress to his dog. Hudson, a marketing consultant, has a good shot, as redistricting has made Kissell’s district overwhelmingly Republican.

* Voters are voting in Illinois tonight! While you wait for results, check out our favorite Illinois tweeters and favorite Illinois music. And don’t forget to vote in our prediction contest.

THE FIX MIX:

Never bring a pig to a press conference.

With Rachel Weiner