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SPRINGFIELD- To resounding cheers and applause, Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren walked away from the state party's convention in Springfield as the official Democratic candidate to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown in November.

"We've been endorsing candidates this way for 30 years and we've never had a candidate get 86 percent of the delegates votes," said party Chair John Walsh, referencing the minimum 15 percent support threshold Marisa DeFranco needed to appear on the party's primary ballot.

With Warren landing 95.77 percent of the delegate votes and shattering the record, she prevented DeFranco from getting the votes she needed, effectively ending the immigration attorney's candidacy.

Warren, who was the party favorite to take on Brown since she entered the race in late 2011, took on the Republican incumbent in her speech to the delegates and in her speech accepting the party's official endorsement.

"Thank you Marisa for your passion and commitment to Democratic values," Warren said. "And now, I've got just one thing to say, I'm ready!"

Following her acceptance speech, she stood alongside supporters at the MassMutual Center in Springfield where she said the convention's outcome was a validation of their efforts.

"I faced this, working for every single vote, every single day and today, I worked for every single vote, every single hour," Warren said. "It's what you do. Now, I'd love to see some debates with Scott Brown. Let's get started."

DeFranco was unavailable for comment immediately following the convention.

Walsh said Warren won because of her "impressive grassroots organization" and "her record as a tireless advocate for middle class families"

2012 Massachusetts Democratic Endorsing Convention 27 Gallery: 2012 Massachusetts Democratic Endorsing Convention

“Never before have Massachusetts Democrats rallied around a candidate with such passion and determination," Walsh said in a statement. "We think that Elizabeth is the candidate who can beat Scott Brown and we know that she will be a senator who will make Massachusetts families proud. The choice facing Massachusetts voters in November is now crystal clear. Scott Brown stands with Wall Street and big corporations and Elizabeth Warren will fight for middle class Massachusetts families."

Warren, a Harvard Law School professor who has been dogged for weeks by a controversy surrounding her Native American ancestry and what part, if any it played in her career advancement, came to Springfield on Friday working to put the issue behind her.

She took several interviews with local and national reporters and arguably, for the first time since the controversy surfaced, tackled the issue head-on.

Following the convention, Deputy Chairman of the Massachusetts Republican Party Peter Blute, said that the commonwealth benefits from having diversity in its Senate delegation, as Brown, a Republican, and Democratic U.S. Sen. John Kerry now provide.

"In Washington, it is a two-party place and it is better to have someone in the other caucus to advocate for the state," Blute said. "A lot of time, the discussions take place in the other caucus room and you are better off to have someone there."

Blute described the way the Democratic Party rallied around Warren at the convention as the systematic "snuffing out" of DeFranco's campaign, as the outside money and influence makes an impact on the state party.

"It's obvious what happened today-they took the opportunity to snuff out a burgeoning campaign because she (DeFranco) was starting to ask uncomfortable questions," Blute said.

Walsh did take time to commend DeFranco for her efforts and Democrats at the convention hinted that this is likely not the last of the fiery federal immigration attorney as far as politics in concerned.

“Marisa worked hard and she should be proud of how she stood up for what she believes,” Walsh said. “I hope she continues to fight for our Democratic principles.”

A Western New England University poll conducted in a partnership with The Republican newspaper and MassLive.com, concluded that Warren and Brown are running neck-and-neck despite the controversy, with the consumer advocate gaining support in key demographics across the state.

In Western Massachusetts, Warren is holding a small lead over Brown, 44 to 41 percent.

