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OREM - Fists pumped, applause ricocheted like basketballs and a Michael Moore look-alike was showered with boos - all that more than an hour before conservative guest speaker Sean Hannity even took the McKay Events Center stage.
When he saluted near the podium in khakis and a black blazer with hip-hop blaring - 30 minutes late to accommodate the crowd's procession through security - Utah Valley State College's newly energized, if a little surreal, political season was solidified.
But Hannity, who began stirring a stew of nearly 8,000 Bush-backers before the speech during a live broadcast of his Fox News TV show, ''Hannity and Colmes,'' was just getting started.
He lampooned Bill Clinton with voice-cracking impersonations, hiccupped to mimic Ted Kennedy and said James Carville is ''proof there is life on other planets.''
Midway through the performance, the talk-show host led both sides of the arena in a ''flip-flop, flip-flop'' chant as crowd members swayed each way with arms raised. It was one of many missives fired at Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during a speech that often felt like a rock concert.
''This is why I love Utah,'' Hannity said. ''I love you.''
Almost on cue, a crowd member yelled, ''Utah loves Sean,'' followed seconds later by ''Hannity for President.''
The 95-minute rally was one-part celebration and one-part pre-emptive strike.
''Michael Moore has no idea what he's getting into,'' Hannity said about the liberal filmmaker scheduled to speak on the same stage next Wednesday. ''This is great.''
When Hannity challenged any liberals in the arena to stand up, only a smattering obliged. That was too many for Hannity who quipped, ''There is the surest sign that our educational system is failing.''
Saying he didn't need notes since his speeches are ''from the heart,'' the radio and television host used few gimmicks save one. Hannity called a student vowing to vote for Kerry on stage to articulate the candidate's ''consistent position on Iraq.'' As the student stumbled through an explanation, the crowd hissed.
Hannity, clearly enjoying the conservative crowd, repeatedly said he does not hate liberals, but disagrees with them. ''You can move into our neighborhood if you like, if you can afford it,'' he told one of the crowd's few critics.
The majority of the crowd - several hundred who came early to watch the Fox News program - ate up the act and gave Hannity multiple standing ovations.
Keith Blomquist said he got what he expected.
''He was singing to the choir, but that's O.K.,'' the Provo resident said.
In a heavier moment, Hannity was asked when he would take the ''missionary discussions,'' in a reference to LDS teaching. Hannity - who was raised Catholic - used the question to praise Utah's religious reputation.
''You've held on to an innocence that sadly I think a lot of the country has lost,'' he said. ''It's refreshing to come here.''
Outside the venue, roughly two dozen protesters waived signs and mugged for television cameras before the speech. Several complained about getting the middle finger as a mostly ambivalent crowd strode by.
Kiyomi Bolick, a UVSC student said Hannity's presence - a move intended to counter Moore - was unnecessary. ''If Hannity's visit was announced first, there wouldn't be anyone crying about a need for balance,'' she said. ''It reeks of hypocrisy.''
Most of the protesters wielded signs opposing the war in Iraq, not Hannity personally.
Steven Dunn, a UVSC freshman said it is important for people in Utah County to know there are voters supporting Kerry for president. ''I think it's great Hannity is here,'' he said. ''But it is important to show there are different viewpoints in the valley.''
Dennis Potter, a UVSC philosophy professor who organized the protests, lauded the dissenting point of view and called on supporters of the war in Iraq to show up when Moore comes to the Orem college.
About three dozen cops patrolled the perimeter of the McKay Events Center, while security was heavy at the entrances and inside the arena.
UVSC spokesman Derek Hall called Monday's event a great warm-up for Moore.
''It's a little bit of overkill. We acknowledge that,'' he said. ''But it's prudent to get ready for next week.''
A Moore look-alike turned heads before the speech, fooling many in attendance who thought the ''Fahrenheit 9/11'' director had come to debate Hannity.
Turns out, Kenneth Brown, a 40-year-old UVSC theater major, was just playing the part.
''I'm better looking, and I'm a Republican,'' said Brown, who donned jeans, baseball hat and jacket and wore a beard and glasses. Hannity called him onstage later, drawing boos from the rowdy crowd.
Most of the speech echoed the speaker's meat-and-potatoes rhetoric from his programs, including praise of President Reagan and shots at Kerry's Senate voting record.
He also assailed the news media, saying at one point, ''I'd like to know who forged those documents, Mr. Rather.''
Hannity later said he can't wait to read about his performance in ''The Salt Lake Liberal Tribune.''
Throughout the speech, Hannity called out Moore, often saying he was gutless for not debating him. He told the audience - mixed evenly with students and nonstudents - that Moore was not worth ''one red cent'' in student fees to come to speak.
The crowd thundered with applause.
Replied Hannity:
''I just wish the rest of this country was this red.''
Voices
"We're fans of Sean Hannity. He stands for what we believe in. He's a voice for what we are not able to say. He reaches a lot more people than we can."
SEAN TRESEDER,
Salt Lake City resident
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"He speaks the truth about liberals and all."
BECKAH WEBSTER,
Pleasant Grove resident, 11,
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"He speaks the facts. He gave us fact after fact. He proved that Kerry has nothing to show for his 20 years in Congress. I wasn't going to but I think I'd like to come [see Michael Moore] just to tell him he's a liar. I can handle a liberal but not one who doesn't support our country."
JILL JACOBSEN,
West Jordan resident
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"He rocks. and what a hunk. He is so good looking. I'd come to see him anytime anywhere."
ALEESA FRAMPTON,
Salt Lake City resident
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"I agree with a lot of it but I think he should be a bit more tolerant towards other viewpoints. He maybe oversimplies on a few issues. I enjoy his radio program."
MARTIN PALMER,
Springville resident
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"[Michael Moore is] a loser. He's a left-wing nut job."
PAT CHRISTENSEN,
Orem resident
"He's not afraid to stand up for what he believes in."
HOLLY WEBSTER,
Pleasant Grove resident, 14
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"I think he's awesome. He's pro-American. He speaks the truth and it's just refreshing to hear that. [My daughters are] the reason I'm here, they wanted to come listen to him."
NANCY WEBSTER,
Pleasant Grove mother, attending with daughters Bekah and Holly.