By Alex Knott and Kathleen Hunter, CQ Staff

A former Justice Department lawyer nominated by President Bush to the Federal Election Commission withdrew his name from consideration Friday, clearing the way toward a possible resolution of a months-old standoff that has crippled the agency’s enforcement ability.

Hans von Spakovsky withdrew his name after months in limbo. Senate Democrats held up acting on the nomination, objecting to von Spakovsky’s enforcement of civil-rights laws while at the Justice Department.

Republican senators in turn refused to allow the other FEC nominees to be considered for confirmation, leaving the six-member agency with only two sitting commissioners, too few to conduct official business.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., welcomed the decision and said the Senate would likely be able to move “swiftly to put a functioning FEC in place.”

“Democrats stood united in their opposition to von Spakovsky because of his long and well-documented history of working to suppress the rights of minorities and the elderly to vote,” Reid said in a statement. “He was not qualified to hold any position of trust in our government.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., said in a statement that he was “deeply disappointed” that von Spakovsky had withdrawn his name and blamed Senate Democrats for blocking the nomination, saying the move created a troubling precedent.

“Senate Democrats have politicized one more function of the legislative branch that had traditionally been a partisan-free zone,” McConnell said, adding that he was hopeful nominees now could be confirmed quickly to get the FEC up and running prior to the November election. “It is imperative that we have a fully functioning, bipartisan FEC. New nominees should be voted on and confirmed without any more political games.”

The continued impasse recently led to criticism from campaign finance watchdogs, as both Democrats and the White House have offered possible compromises, but the two continued to disagree over von Spakovsky’s nomination.

In April, Reid offered to fill all six seats anew if Bush would agree to drop the von Spakovsky nomination. Bush countered by offering three new names: Democrat Cynthia L. Bauerly and Republicans Donald F. McGahn and Caroline C. Hunter. McGahn would replace Commissioner David M. Mason, who had been awaiting confirmation as a reappointment.

But Bush’s list also included von Spakovsky, along with Democrat Steven T. Walther, who also was awaiting confirmation. In addition, Bush heeded Reid’s advice and renominated Commissioner Ellen Weintraub to her current seat.

The move to replace Mason was also contentious, since he had recently written a letter questioning presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain ’s, request to withdraw from the primary matching funds program.

The withdrawal of von Spakovsky may clear the way for confirmation of Bush’s other nominees. Since January, the commission has not been able to take any major actions including approving investigations, deciding pending matters or approve penalties for those breaking campaign finance laws.

Seating the new commissioners also would allow the FEC to approve $84 million in general funds to presidential candidates during the fall.