RHINELANDER, WI (WTAQ) - A physical therapist from Rhinelander said Monday he would drop out of the Republican race for Herb Kohl’s U.S. Senate seat.

Kip Smith plans to make his formal announcement Tuesday morning in front of the Oneida County Courthouse in Rhinelander.

Smith was nothing more than a long-shot candidate, but he did get to share his views at a few forums with the other and better-known GOP hopefuls. Smith’s platform included cuts in federal spending, and repealing the federal health care reform act.

In a statement, Smith called his effort “an amazing campaign on a true shoe-string budget.” But he said he cannot continue the campaign and, “risk the financial future of my family.”

Smith’s departure leaves 4 Republicans in the race – former Governor Tommy Thompson, ex-Congressman Mark Neumann, state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, and hedge fund manager Eric Hovde.

They’ll square off in a primary August 14th, and the winner will face Democrat Tammy Baldwin in November for the Senate seat to be given up by Kohl, who’s retiring after 24 years in office.