Tommy Thompson mulls Feingold challenge

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson (R) won't rule out a bid to unseat Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.).

"I'm going through a process," Thompson told reporters Thursday after a speech in Madison, Wis. "I'm looking at the possibilities and I'm looking at where I could serve and be the biggest help to grow Wisconsin."

One concern, Thompson said, is mothballing his career in the private sector. The former Bush cabinet secretary serves as president of a healthcare company and is associated with several corporate boards. He's also a partner at the Washington law firm Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.

"Everybody knows I was broke when I left the government five years ago," Thompson said. "I've made a few shekels, not as many as you guys think I've made, but it's tough to go back, there's no question about that. But the country's in trouble right now and I'm looking at that."

He'll have a few months to crunch the numbers – Wisconsin's filing deadline is July 13.