Verizon installed a temporary cell phone tower at the Arizona ranch owned by Republican presidential candidate John McCain and his wife Cindy McCain and AT&T followed suit, the Washington Post reported today. Both companies deny any ethical wrongdoing, stating that cell coverage is essential wherever there’s a presidential candidate.

In Verizon’s case, the McCains sought to get a permanent tower installed several months before the U.S. Senator was a viable candidate. Whether that process involved special favors is a matter of dispute, the newspaper said.

Verizon said the McCains applied for coverage at their property just like any customer would, however, industry sources told the newspaper that no wireless carrier would normally install an expensive tower – whether permanent or portable – for an area so sparsely populated.