Supreme Court allows issue ads in federal elections

"Issue ads" were restricted under a 2002 law sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Arizona (left), and Russ Feingold, D-Wisconsin.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Supreme Court on Monday swept aside part of a campaign finance law dealing with "issue ads."

The ruling could mean a greater role in the 2008 presidential campaign for advocacy groups, corporations and labor unions, which air the commercials in the weeks before voters go to the polls.

In a 5-4 ruling upholding an appeals court decision, the high court's majority concluded the specific guidelines for the issue ads - aired mainly on television - were overly restrictive.

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- CNN Supreme Court Producer Bill Mears