WASHINGTON — John McCain, a senior member of the Senate committee that oversees the telecom industry, now has cell phone coverage at the family's ranch near Sedona, Ariz., following a request from his wife, Cindy, early in 2007.

The two cellular companies most often used by the campaign staff, Verizon Wireless and AT&T, provided the coverage at the ranch, which is in a remote canyon where reception is difficult.

In June, Verizon delivered a portable tower free of charge to the ranch property after a request from Cindy McCain's staff.

The "cell site on wheels" is ordinarily reserved for restoring service during emergencies.

AT&T brought in a tower in July.

The Washington Post quoted AT&T spokeswoman Claudia B. Jones as saying that "you can't have a presidential nominee in an area where there is not cell coverage."

"This story is a disgrace," said McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers. "The McCains went through the process that is available to anybody who subscribes to one of these cell phone companies to inquire about getting service."

He added: "At the end of the day, the Secret Service determined that they felt they needed the service and proceeded as well."

ALLEGED THREAT INVESTIGATED

WASHINGTON — The Secret Service is looking into a second allegation that a participant at a Republican political rally shouted "kill him," referring to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

The Scranton Times-Tribune reported that someone in the crowd shouted "kill him" after the mention of Obama's name during a rally Tuesday in Scranton, Pa., for GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

Last week, the Washington Post reported a similar incident during a Palin rally in Clearwater, Fla. The Secret Service investigated that allegation and found no indication that "kill him" was ever said, or if it was said, that the remark was directed at Obama.

RNC HALTS ADS IN WISCONSIN, MAINE

WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee is halting presidential ads in Wisconsin and Maine, turning its attention primarily to usually Republican states where GOP nominee John McCain shows signs of faltering.

The party's independent ad operation is doubling its budget to about $10 million and focusing on crucial states such as Colorado, Missouri, Indiana and Virginia where Democrat Barack Obama has established a foothold, according to a Republican strategist familiar with presidential ad placements.

Florida and North Carolina have also been in the RNC ad mix, but Pennsylvania is the only Democratic-leaning swing state apparently left in the party's ad campaign.

While a pullout from Wisconsin is a significant strategic move, it does not represent a full GOP retreat from the state. McCain's campaign has notified Wisconsin stations that it planned to continue to buy air time through Oct. 26.

MURTHA CALLS HIS HOME BASE 'RACIST'

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. John Murtha said yesterday his home base of western Pennsylvania is racist and that could reduce Barack Obama's victory margin in the state by 4 percentage points.

The 17-term Democratic congressman told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in an online story yesterday: "There is no question that western Pennsylvania is a racist area."

Despite that, Murtha said the Democratic candidate for president should still win the state, though not in a runaway.

PALIN SAYS N.H. IS A LOT LIKE ALASKA

DOVER, N.H. — Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says she feels a kinship with the voters of New Hampshire.

"You're a lot like the people of Alaska. We all love good moose hunting, I know that. We both so enjoy our great lands, with clean water, fresh air and abundant wildlife and good fishing," she said.

For all her praise of New Hampshire, however, she misspoke about its location, at one point talking about Dover and "other parts of this great Northwest."