Sean Hannity, the popular conservative commentator, told listeners of his national radio program Thursday he is willing to fly to Utah at his own expense to debate Rocky Anderson about the Iraq war and the liberal Salt Lake City mayor's call for President Bush's impeachment.

"I will go head to head with him for charity," Hannity told a Salt Lake City caller on the radio show, which airs on KSL NewsRadio. "You tell Rocky I'm ready to come out. I want to talk about the merits of the war. I want to talk about the democratic strategy of cuttin' and running. . . . We'll talk about his silly ideas about impeachment and how political they are."

Bring it on, Anderson says.

"I look forward to a good, open, fair debate with anyone on this topic," he said. "The facts are clear. This country was defrauded."

Anderson was supposed to be on the Fox News television show, "Hannity and Colmes," on Thursday night. But Fox scrapped the appearance because of scheduling problems, according to the Mayor's Office.

Hannity said on his radio show that he didn't know Anderson was a guest or why it was canceled. He said the mayor is invited "anytime" on his radio or TV show. But "Why not make it a big event? Why not do it for charity?"

The mayor said he welcomes a face-to-face debate. "This will be better anyway. In a debate format, he won't be able to hang up or interrupt or shout [me] down when he disagrees," said Anderson, who has appeared on a Fox News program before but has never watched Hannity's show.

Hannity suggested the audience could decide who wins and the victor could pick the charity. Anderson said he would donate to Guadalupe School. He was board president of the school before he became mayor.

Hannity has made frequent trips to red-state Utah. His most memorable was in 2004, when he came to speak at Utah Valley State College to counteract Michael Moore's appearance at the Orem college. He also has appeared at the July 4 Stadium of Fire extravaganza.

Anderson traveled to Washington state last week to testify in favor of a resolution calling on Congress to investigate and possibly impeach the president. He also has been a featured speaker at anti-Bush, anti-war protests in Utah's and the nation's capital.

hmay@sltrib.com