The McCain campaign is trying a new tactic to boost their funds, reportedly negotiating a $3 million loan in order to obtain the seed money they'll need to turn his currently boost in the polls into some real progress on the ground.

The campaign has also been considering taking matching funds, but they don't want to be encumbered by the per-state spending restrictions that come with the public money.

Meanwhile, the campaign finance reform advocate will be getting some help from a curious outside source, with an new independent group about to run ads on his behalf in South Carolina. The ads are being produced by longtime GOP ad man Rick Reed, who also co-produced the Swift Boat ads in 2004. McCain's aides said they have no involvement or knowledge of the ads.

The group making them, calling itself Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America, is being finance mainly by McCain supporters, and Reed himself was a volunteer with the McCain campaign earlier this year.