DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Elizabeth Dole moved a step closer to a full-fledged campaign for president yesterday, announcing the formation of an exploratory committee and saying she sees "a great American yearning" that she is ready to fulfill.

Highlighting her qualifications in the race for the 2000 Republican nomination, Dole said she had worked for five presidents - and had held two Cabinet posts - but she also sought to separate herself from other political candidates.

"What does a woman like me have to offer the country?" she asked. "I'm not a politician, and, frankly, today I think that may be a plus."

Dole pointed to her experience as secretary of labor and secretary of transportation as well as her eight years heading the American Red Cross.

"That's experience, and that's what counts," she said. "I'm not a seat-warmer. I want to get in there and make a difference."

Her speech, announcing an exploratory committee looking toward a campaign, was heavy on themes.

"I want to hear from you; this is a people-to-people effort on my part," Dole told more than 400 backers who jammed a rally. "We're going to be laying out positions on all these issues, but we're going to be doing it in a thoughtful way."

At times, Dole sounded a theme of individual involvement in public affairs.

"We must rekindle a spirit in our hearts, something very American, something still alive but buried beneath a thickening layer of skepticism and doubt," she said. "Honesty and integrity is what people yearn for today."

Dole bought half-hour slots of television time in Iowa and New Hampshire to air commercials referring indirectly to President Clinton's problems.

"If I run, this will be why: I believe our people are looking for leaders who will call America to her better nature," she said. "Yes, we've been let down - and by people we should have been able to look up to."

After her speech, Dole left the room without answering reporters' questions.

Early polls have shown Texas Gov. George W. Bush and Dole far ahead of other possible GOP rivals. Bush issued a statement welcoming her to the contest.

"I think Elizabeth Dole is a fine person, and I'm glad she's in the race," he said. "I think it's instructive to America that the first viable female presidential candidate is a Republican."

A Gallup Poll released yesterday showed Dole with 50 percent support compared with 45 percent for Vice President Al Gore in a one-on-one matchup. Bush had a 56 percent to 41 percent lead over Gore.

Four out of 10 poll respondents said that, all else being equal, a man would make a better president than a woman. Three out of 10 said a woman would be better.

The telephone poll of 1,014 adults was conducted Friday through Sunday and had an error margin of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

In a weekend event on his own exploratory committee, Bush featured a blue-ribbon panel of prominent national Republicans. Dole focused on Iowa GOP leaders and her long ties to the state that opens the nominating season.

Iowa's precinct caucuses launch the season next February. It's a state where she is well-known, with a long history of campaigning for her husband.

"She's a known commodity and starts out with a lot of strength," said Iowa Republican Chairman Kayne Robinson. She did not say exactly who would be on her committee.