Federal Election Commission

The Federal Election Commission today certified Gary Hart eligible to receive federal matching funds for his revived campaign for the 1988 Democratic presidential nomination. That clears the way for Hart's campaign to receive $100,000 early next week from the U.S. Treasury, commission spokeswoman Sharon Snyder said.

One of President Bush's lawyers during the 2000 Florida recount is creating a group to spend millions advocating Bush's reelection, hoping to counter efforts by billionaire George Soros and others to help Democrats capture the White House. Attorney George Terwilliger and Republican political consultants Frank Donatelli and Craig Shirley are asking the Federal Election Commission for advice on whether their plan is legal under the new campaign finance law, a copy of the letter says.

The Federal Election Commission dismissed complaints against two inactive "soft money" committees but warned that tougher steps could be taken once active fund-raising begins. The Democratic State Party Organization was not in violation of the new McCain-Feingold law only because it has yet to raise or spend any money, the FEC said.