Responding to Palin knock, Mass. Sen. tells the Worcester Telegram & Gazette “I don’t know what the surprise is… I said I was going to go down there and be an independent voice.”

HALPERIN’S TAKE: This could get interesting. Brown is the only person in the party now with the mojo and media platform to take on Palin — and he can actually help himself by doing it (unlike a lot of others, who would run a risk with even a side swipe). Watch this space….