FEC votes to allow candidates to raise cash for ‘super PACs’

In a move that could dramatically change the financial landscape for the upcoming 2012 elections, the Federal Election Commission unanimously ruled Thursday that politicians can solicit funds for so-called "super PACs," political groups that raise unlimited and largely unregulated contributions.

The move knocks down a wall between candidates and outside groups who are expected to spend tens of millions of dollars to influence the upcoming campaign. But the FEC did put some limits on what politicians can do for the "super PACs."

The advisory opinion today says candidates and party officials can solicit up to $5,000 from individuals and other PACs for the groups, contributions that must be disclosed. But the commission rejected a second request that would have allowed candidates to solicit unlimited donations from all sources, including corporations and labor unions.

Candidates and political parties are still blocked from directly coordinating political strategy with the groups. But the ruling gives politicians the ability to encourage donors that have given the maximum contribution to a candidate committee to increase their support by giving to an outside group that may or may not spend massive sums of cash to influence campaigns.

The opinion was requested by two leading Democratic outside groups—Majority PAC and House Majority PAC, which have announced plans to spend millions to boost congressional Democrats in the upcoming election. As Politico reported earlier this week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have already been raising cash for the groups.

The opinion also boosts Mitt Romney's campaign. As The Ticket previously reported, several Romney allies have launched an outside group, Restore Our Future PAC, to raise cash to boost the ex-Massachusetts governor's presidential bid.

(Photo of Pelosi and Reid: Harry Hamburg/AP)