Patrick Kennedy on Vicki

A piece appearing in the Washington Post this weekend focused on top Democrats pushing the late Senator Ted Kennedy's widow Vicki Reggie Kennedy to run for his old seat in 2012, challenging the popular Republican Scott Brown.

The Post reports tension within the Kennedy clan over the idea. And retiring Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy, who has been fairly open about his difficult relationship with his stepmother, is among the doubters:

In an interview, however, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), the youngest of Edward Kennedy's three children, said he wished his stepmother would focus her energy exclusively on raising money to build the endowment of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate, a nonprofit organization that aims to inspire future leaders.

"As a politician, it's not as if I don't get frustrated by seeing the opportunities missed in the last year for amazing events with this president, this speaker and others who have demonstrated their willingness time and again to honor Dad's legacy," said Kennedy, who battles drug and alcohol addiction and mental illness and has long had a troubled relationship with this stepmother. "You know the phrase, 'You make hay while the sun shines?' This was the year to do it."

His brother, Edward Kennedy Jr., has also expressed concern that a campaign would distract her from the institute, people familiar with his thinking said. The sources would discuss the sensitive family matter only on condition of anonymity.

Vicki Kennedy, for her part, down plays the idea of running for her late husband's seat.