Massachusetts Republicans are desperately scrambling to find a strong Senate candidate to replace Scott Brown, with some even trying to persuade Mitt Romney’s wife or son to jump into the race to avert another electoral disaster.

The former GOP senator’s decision to stay out of the June 25 special election surprised and angered some Republican leaders, who said it will make it much harder to beat a Democratic opponent without Brown on the ballot.

“I’ve had several people call me and ask about Ann Romney,” Ron Kaufman, a longtime friend and aide to the former Massachusetts governor and 2012 presidential candidate nominee, told the Herald.

“Our bench isn’t too deep,” added Rob Willington, a former Massachusetts Republican Party executive director who’s worked with both the Brown and Romney campaigns.

Without someone such as Ann Romney, most Republicans agree the strongest candidate would be former Gov. William F. Weld, who just moved back to Massachusetts and hasn’t ruled out another run for office. Weld did not return messages, but sources close to him said he has “no interest” in running.

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