Published August 16, 2010

Victoria Reggie Kennedy with her husband, the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, in 2004 (Michael Dwyer/AP)

As the first anniversary of Sen. Ted Kennedy‘s death approaches — can you believe it? — some Democrats say his widow may have the best shot at winning back his old seat. The Washington Post reports:

Though she has seemed to bat down the idea of challenging Sen. Scott Brown (R) in 2012, Victoria Reggie Kennedy has been in some ways acting the part of a candidate. She has raised her public profile by campaigning for other politicians and appearing at events across the country.

The prospect of her candidacy is fast becoming a source of family tension, according to several Kennedy intimates. Some relatives fear that a campaign against Brown — a popular figure even in liberal Massachusetts — would distract Kennedy from promoting her late husband’s legacy, they said.

And so begins a familiar campaign — carried out in the press by anonymous sources — to get Victoria Reggie to run for office. We saw it happen (and ultimately fail) with another Kennedy — Caroline — in New York.

But Vicki’s supporters say she has a bigger Rolodex and more star power than any other Dem in Massachusetts. That may be just what it takes to unseat a certain well-liked Republican. 2012 seems far away, but that campaign would have to start now.

Gerry Harrington, a Kennedy family friend and Washington consultant with ties to Boston, said he thinks it will take a “Herculean effort” to defeat Brown. “I would think it would take a Kennedy to beat him,” Harrington said. “Logic would dictate Vicki would be it.”

If you missed it, the Boston Globe Magazine ran a long piece on Vicki this weekend that touched on her possible candidacy.

What do you think? Should Vicki run? Would you vote for her?