WASHINGTON (AP) – Former American Red Cross president Elizabeth Dole dropped all pretense about her political intentions today. She’s running for the presidency in 2000.

The two-time Republican Cabinet member formed an ‘‘exploratory committee’’ in the spring to raise and spend money while she determined the feasibility of a campaign for the White House.

Campaign spokesman Ari Fleischer said today that Mrs. Dole is no longer simply exploring. ‘‘She’s running,’’ he said. A formal announcement is expected in the fall.

Mrs. Dole has made her intentions clear for months, but the spokesman said she decided to drop the exploratory language on the same day that second-quarter presidential fund-raising ends.

Fleischer said Mrs. Dole will report raising $3.4 million, including $2.7 million in the last three months. That second-quarter figure is second only to Texas Gov. George W. Bush, Fleischer said.

‘‘She has the most momentum than any candidate other than Governor Bush,’’ the spokesman said.

However, Bush is on pace to raise at least $20 million more than Dole. And at least one other GOP foe, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, has raised more money than Dole overall.

Fleischer noted that McCain and fellow candidate Rep. John Kasich of Ohio are allowed by law to transfer money from their congressional campaign accounts, calling that a ‘‘cozy little loophole.’’

He said it is impressive that Mrs. Dole raised more in the second quarter than the lawmakers, both chairmen of powerful committees ‘who can raise oodles of money from lobbyists.’’