41.   Democrat Tony Sanchez Jr., the multimillionaire banker from Laredo, has formed an exploratory committee that could evolve into a gubernatorial bid.

42.   Dole is to announce her exploratory committee, a preliminary step in which a candidate can raise money without formally declaring, Wednesday in Des Moines, Iowa.

43.   Donald J. Trump, the developer, has formed an exploratory committee to investigate a Reform Party candidacy.

44.   Earlier this week, Sen. John McCain of Arizona became the first Republican to announce the formation of an exploratory committee.

45.   Dole, who began recruiting campaign aides months ago, said Thursday that officials of his political action committee, Campaign America, would move to his exploratory committee.

46.   Earlier in the day, Dole had filed papers with the Federal Election Commission, setting up a presidential campaign exploratory committee.

47.   Even if Mrs. Clinton goes ahead and forms an exploratory committee, she still could back out of the race.

48.   Every candidate forms exploratory committees these days.

49.   Exploratory committees, in their simplicity, want to give their hearts away.

50.   FEC spokeswoman Kelly Huff said Wednesday that the decision whether to accept federal money does not have to be made before forming an exploratory committee.