Presidential candidate John McCain has had Verizon and AT&T install temporary cell sites near his Arizona ranch so that he receives better coverage.

The Washington Post reported the story at the end of last week. They established that McCain’s wife, Cindy, offered some land to Verizon early last year in the hope that they would put a cell there, however at that time, the company said no.

However, buckling to pressure from security services, Verizon rolled in a temporary base station to provide better reception. AT&T – not wanting to be left out (he could be president soon don’t you know) – wheeled in their own cell, giving the McCain’s the best coverage in the planet.*

The cells are towers on trailers that are powered by a generator and connected to the world through a microwave link.

So why are these two companies falling all over themselves to help McCain? Well, I think it could be to do with the face five of his campaign officials worked as lobbyists for Verizon, and that Verizon’s own employees have raised $155,000 to fund the campaign, along with $1.3 million from the Verizon chief executive.

AT&T is even more under McCain’s thumb, with its executive vice president raising $2.3 million with the help of AT&T lobbyists, and staff donating $325,000 to the campaign fund.

McCain is also a member of the Senate commerce committee, which oversees the FCC.

A campaign spokesman told the Post – through his gritted teeth - “Mrs McCain’s staff went through the website as any member of the general public would - no string-pulling, no phone calls, no involvement of Senate staff … Just because she is married to a senator doesn’t mean she forfeits her right to ask for cell service as any other Verizon customer can.”

AT&T made it clear they were helping McCain: “You can’t have a presidential nominee in an area where there is no cell coverage.”

* Ok, so maybe not the best in the world, but its probably quite good.