Bob Dole didn’t hesitate this weekend out in Russell when asked who the Republican Party should nominate for president next year.

Gen. David Petraeus, Dole said, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan who’s about to become CIA director.

“We need another Eisenhower,” Dole said.

He also fretted that President Obama will build a huge warchest, and the GOP nominee will be essentially starting from scratch after the primaries are over next year.

That will give Obama a huge — but not necessarily an insurmountable edge, Dole said.

As to the Tea Party? Dole said he thought he was conservative until this group came along. He’s still trying to figure them out.