Senate Republicans who are concerned about former President Trump’s viability in a general election now see Nikki Haley as the last, best chance of denying Trump the GOP presidential nomination and averting what they see as a potential general election disaster.  

GOP senators who don’t support Trump acknowledge he could win the presidency, given President Biden’s weak job approval ratings, but they view Haley as much more electable because she does not alienate independent and suburban women voters like Trump does.  

They are worried that if Trump is the GOP nominee, it could still lead to a disastrous result for their party.

GOP lawmakers recognize that Trump has a commanding lead in GOP primary polls, but many see Haley as a better choice because she does not face Trump’s legal issues that include 91 felony counts in four separate criminal trials.

They also see Haley as a candidate far less likely to blindside them with wild statements or sudden sweeping policy pronouncements that would become political landmines in next year’s battle for the Senate majority.

The growing buzz around Haley comes at a time when many GOP senators are writing off Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s chances of staging a comeback.