Luring Elizabeth Warren into the Massachusetts Senate race — possibly the recruitment coup of the cycle — has energized party activists who six months ago were worried about Sen. Scott Brown’s strength. Now, they believe they can thwart the GOP march to a majority with a two-seat strategy of their own, by upending freshman incumbents in Massachusetts and Nevada.

“Warren has gotten off to the kind of start you dream of for your candidates. She has really energized people in the state by showing the kind of talent you can’t teach and a voice you can’t fake,” said Matthew Miller, a former DSCC communications aide.

She’s already proven herself to be a record-shattering fundraiser and has drawn standing-room only crowds on the stump.

In Nevada, there is little evidence Sen. Dean Heller has been reaping the benefits of incumbency since being appointed in April. In addition to being forced to vote for Rep. Paul Ryan’s budget plan twice, Democrat Shelley Berkley outraised him during the second quarter and has kept pace in private polling.