The Associated Press reports that U.S. District Judge James Spencer denied the Real Truth About Obama Inc.'s preliminary injunction request. According to BNA Money and Politics ($$), Judge Spencer told attorneys that "he would rule quickly" in the case challenging Federal Election Commission restrictions on 527 groups.

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) will hold a public hearing Sept. 17 on proposed bundling rules for reporting contributions bundled by lobbyists, lobbying organizations, and the political action committees of lobbyists. The FEC will hear from some of those who commented in writing on the proposed rule issued Nov. 2007.

On Sept. 5 Ohio Southern District Court Judge George C. Smith ruled to allow the Ohio Right to Life Society (ORTL) air advertisements mentioning the name of a political candidate within 30 days of an election. The decision prohibits the state of Ohio from enforcing a state campaign finance law restricting corporate funding of messages that mention a candidate in the weeks before an election (electioneering communications) as it related to the two specific ORTL ads at issue. The judge denied their request to also block enforcement of provisions requiring disclosure of those who fund the ads.