She currently is chairperson of the House Rail Subcommittee.

All the money in both accounts could be used to fund a Senate bid if she decides to formalize her candidacy.

"I know the big-money special interests are lining up behind [Gov.] Charlie Crist, but they can't vote in Florida," Brown said in a statement, seeming to overlook the fact that she would have to beat fellow Rep. Kendrick B. Meek in the primary before facing Crist in the general election.

Ronnie Simmons, Brown's chief of staff, said the Senate committee will in an exploratory phase until the end of the year, at which point she will make a final decision about the race.

Brown announced in late May that she was considering throwing her hat into the 2010 Senate race.

Meek ended June with $2.3 million in cash on hand and is the establishment choice in state and national Democratic circles.

On Tuesday, former President Bill Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., will host a $1,000-per-head reception for Meek in Washington, D.C.