Topeka ? Trailing in polls and campaign cash, U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas today dropped out of the Republican presidential campaign.

Brownback announced his decision at a news conference in the Statehouse.

Brownback had spent much of the past year campaigning in Iowa in preparation for the GOP caucus in January.

Known for his opposition to abortion, embyronic stem cell research and gay marriage, Brownback was a darling of the religious right.

He officially launched his campaign in January, saying he was the “conservative you can trust.”

But recent polls showed Brownback with just single digit percentage support of Republican voters in Iowa and nationally.

In August, he finished third in the Iowa straw poll even though several top tier candidates had not participated in the contest.

At 51, Brownback has said he would not run for another senate term in 2010. There has been speculation that he might run for governor.