Secretary of State ends his bid for governor

TOPEKA — Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh ended his bid to be the next Kansas governor Monday, saying he lacked the funding and support to challenge for the Republican nomination.

Thornburgh said it was difficult to raise the funds necessary to beat U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback for the Republican nomination in 2010. Thornburgh estimated he would have needed $4 million to $5 million in donations to win the primary and millions more to win the general election. His campaign had raised $140,546 through the end of 2008, when it last reported its finances.

‘‘Fundraising is very difficult right now, with the economy as it stands today. You’ve seen the average contribution dropping,’’ Thornburgh said. ‘‘It would ultimately take an unprecedented amount of money.’’

Brownback is leaving Washington after two terms in the Senate. He issued a statement saying Thornburgh had been a model public servant and would have been a ‘‘formidable and worthy opponent’’ in the primary.

‘‘I know that his decision to withdraw his name was an extraordinarily difficult one for him and his family to make,’’ Brownback said.

Thornburgh, 46, remains secretary of state through Jan. 11, 2011, and is not expected to seek another term. He was first elected secretary of state in 1994. He said he and Brownback had not had any discussion about the governor’s race, or the possibility of him joining the ticket as lieutenant governor.

‘‘I’m focused on closing this chapter,’’ Thornburgh said.

Democrat Gov. Mark Parkinson took over for former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, who was appointed U.S. secretary of health and human services by President Barack Obama. Parkinson has said he will not seek the office in 2010.

Brownback did not form his campaign committee until January and has not yet been required to file campaign totals.