111.   State Sen. Mark Fernald, is planning to announce formation of an exploratory committee.

112.   The exploratory committee allows him to begin raising funds and gathering a campaign team.

113.   The fund-raiser has been closed to the news media at the request of his presidential exploratory committee, event organizers said.

114.   The formation of an exploratory committee would enable the first lady to raise funds to finance her campaign through private contributions.

115.   The interview comes as the first lady weighs setting up an exploratory committee for a possible Senate bid in New York.

116.   The interview was broadcast as the first lady weighs setting up an exploratory committee for a possible Senate bid from New York next year.

117.   The governor had said when announcing the formation of his presidential exploratory committee in February that he would do no campaigning or traveling until the legislative session ended.

118.   The move comes as Valley Voters Organized Toward Empowerment works on creating an exploratory committee to examine the idea of forming a San Fernando Valley schol district.

119.   The only other candidate to file such papers is a Democrat, former senator and basketball star Bill Bradley, who formed an exploratory committee earlier this month.

120.   The other is Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who earlier this month formed his own exploratory committee.