Warren for Prez? Lenders Face Their Worst Nightmare

Elizabeth Warren's prime-time speech to the Democratic National Convention this week was a hit—at least with delegates and pundits.

The Huffington Post dubbed her "Roarin' Warren" after her fiery speech that blasted big bank chief executives and Mitt Romney alike. The Washington Post slated Warren in the "winners" column assessing the performance of candidates on stage, saying "Warren owned the room in a way no one before her on the podium had done."

The crowd that greeted her was positively raucous, repeatedly chanting "Warren, Warren" so loudly the Massachusetts Senate candidate was forced to tell them to stop.

While bankers—who dislike Warren for dreaming up the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—undoubtedly rolled their eyes, her performance has already started speculation about the possibility of a future presidential run.

"The reaction to Warren in the room made clear that if she winds up in the Senate in 2013, she will immediately become part of the 2016 Democratic presidential conversation," the Post's Chris Cillizza said.

To be sure, there is a large if in there. Current polls suggest Warren—at least prior to her speech—was a few points behind Sen. Scott Brown, a former loan broker.

Still, for bankers and mortgage lenders who believe re-electing President Obama would be the worst thing for their industry, this news may give them a new perspective.

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