A different poll released earlier this week found Brown trailing, 50 percent to 45 percent. Poll: Scott Brown leads by 3 points

Two polls released Tuesday showed Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren in a close race.

Brown leads Warren, 48 percent to 45 percent, in a WBUR poll released Tuesday morning. A UMass survey released in the afternoon shows Warren with a 48 percent to 46 percent edge.


( PHOTOS: The Massachusetts Senate race)

In the WBUR poll, Brown maintained a big favorability advantage: 54 percent of Bay Staters have a favorable image of him, compared with 31 percent who view him negatively. For Warren, those numbers are 47 percent and 38 percent. That advantage disappeared in UMass’ poll: Brown and Warren tied on favorability at 47 percent. But Brown’s unfavorable numbers were higher, 43 percent to 41 percent.

When asked about what they are considering when casting their vote, 62 percent in the WBUR poll said which political party will control the Senate after the election is very important to them, giving Warren a leg up in a Democratic state. Only 50 percent said which candidate would compromise more was very important to them, hurting Brown, who has worked to burnish his image as a moderate. Only 26 percent said which candidate was more likable was very important.

( See also: POLITICO’s polling center)

In the UMass poll, voters found Brown to be more likeable, more honest, more knowledgeable and more experienced. But they also blamed him for what has become a nasty campaign: 45 percent said he had run the more negative campaign. Only 26 percent said the same of Warren.

Most recent polling has found a lead for Warren. A Western New England University poll released earlier this week found Brown trailing, 50 percent to 45 percent.