The withdrawals Wednesday further depressed Senate Republicans who are still looking for some measure of reassurance from Trump’s unrelenting campaign controversies and who thought his choice for running mate could be a soothing gesture.

“I don’t need to say any more about the campaign,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who added that it was disappointing Corker and Ernst declined to be considered. “I understand their reluctance, I’ll put it that way.”

Trump and his GOP critics agree on one thing: A vice-presidential candidate familiar with Congress and the ways of Washington would be a major boost to his campaign. Former Speaker Newt Gingrich would meet that threshold, though it’s been nearly two decades since he left Congress. Republicans on Capitol Hill are pushing harder for an active legislator, which is why Ernst and Cotton found themselves the subject of intense public lobbying by their colleagues.

The fact that Trump met this week with Ernst and campaigned with Corker was enough to buck up some Republicans, but their encouragement lasted barely a day.

Before Ernst all but withdrew from the veepstakes in an interview with Politico, Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada posed a question to her that underscored his and other Republicans’ current reluctance with Trump.

“I asked her today if I could vote for her and against Trump. Because I’m for her, I’m for Cotton,” said Heller, who has not endorsed Trump. “Who he selects for vice president does make a difference.”

But Republicans being floated for the No. 2 post — particularly those who could run for president themselves in the future — face a tough call. They’re weighing the call of duty to the Republican Party against stepping into the great unknown of being forever associated with Trump.

Corker alluded to that challenge on Wednesday. The Tennessee senator noted that he has offered “some constructive observations” publicly for Trump throughout the real estate mogul’s unpredictable campaign — an advisory role that Corker acknowledged would not be possible as his running mate.

“Everybody’s going to be thinking about that. And they should be,” Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) said. “But I think ultimately the question is going to be, in the minds of people who are probably on that narrow list: ‘What can I do to help the country? What can I do to elect a Republican president in November?’”