``I'm going to open an exploratory committee in July,'' she said. ``And then I'll spend some time -- a lot of time -- in New York listening to people and I'm looking forward to that.''

The First Lady made her comments in an interview on ABC's Good Morning America. Her statement confirmed what her top political adviser had said yesterday that she would form an exploratory committee next month for the seat being vacated next year by Democrat Daniel Patrick Moynihan. No First Lady has ever run for public office.

It is a race that could pit her against the Republican mayor of New York city, Rudolph Giuliani.