MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - State Senate Republican Ted Kanavas of Brookfield said Tuesday he would not run for the U.S. Senate this fall – but he won’t rule out a bid in the future.

Kanavas says that he has plenty of support from throughout the state. But he said it would have been hard to raise enough campaign money in such a short time. He figured it would take at least $5 million.

The incumbent, Democrat Russ Feingold, had $11 million in the bank at the end of March. Kanavas also said Feingold has done a “masterful job” of protecting his seat during his 18 years in office. He called the McCain-Feingold campaign reform law, “incumbency protection.”

There are now 3 Republicans officially in the race – former state Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel, Madison developer Terrence Wall, and Watertown businessman Dave Westlake. Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson and Feingold’s GOP challenger in 2004 – Tim Michels – are also thinking about running.