Election officials say mobile political ads must come with disclaimers

The Federal Election Commission is deadlocked on whether to exempt mobile ads from the disclaimers that appear by law on political messaging -- throwing a wrench in the plans of a left-leaning communications firm and pitting its strategists against the FEC's Democratic appointees.

Revolution Messaging -- whose clients include MoveOn.org, Organizing for America and various Democratic committees -- asked the FEC for permission to eliminate disclaimers from its digital banner ads, arguing that the small screens on mobile devices made it impractical to include the legalese. Republican officials sided with Revolution, saying that a disclaimer was unnecessary; Democratic commissioners disagreed. A second, softer proposal had Revolution committing to shortened disclaimers.