Associated Press - December 18, 2009 1:24 PM ET

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Stanley Reed is dropping out of the race for the Republican Senate nomination for health reasons, a little over a week after announcing his bid.

David Sanders, Reed's campaign manager, said Friday the former Arkansas Farm Bureau president decided to drop out of the race after Reed discovered a health problem related to his blood pressure. Sanders called the condition serious, but not life threatening.

Sanders said the condition was serious enough that Reed couldn't continue with his campaign.

Reed announced last week that he would join the Republican field seeking to unseat Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln next year. His exit leaves seven GOP candidates seeking to challenge Lincoln.

Reed had been a past supporter of Lincoln and gave money to her campaign as recently as earlier this year.

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