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Lindsay Graham thinks Ted Cruz is only Republican candidate that can defeat Donald Trump. | AP Photo Graham: We may have to rally around Cruz

Last week, Lindsey Graham joked about murdering Ted Cruz on the Senate floor. Now, Graham thinks his Texas colleague might be his party's best chance to defeat Donald Trump.

"Ted Cruz is not my favorite by any means, and I don't wish him ill," the South Carolina Republican and former presidential candidate said on CBS. "I was making a joke about Ted. But we may be in a position where we have to rally around Ted Cruz as the only way to stop Donald Trump. And I'm not so sure that would work."

When interviewer Charlie Rose asked Graham to confirm that he thinks Cruz is the only candidate who could stop Trump's march to the GOP nomination, Graham agreed. "I can't believe I would say yes, but yes," he said.

Graham said Hillary Clinton would beat Trump "like a drum" in November.

“I think we’re about ready to lose to the most dishonest politician in America, Hillary Clinton," Graham said. "And how could you do that -- nominate someone who’s crazy. I think dishonest beats crazy. That’s our problem.”

Graham said it is unlikely anything will stop Trump on his way to the nomination "short of a major scandal."