Cannon says he has more pressing engagements - working on the irrigation system at his home.

Tancredo, a Colorado Republican and leading spokesman of the anti-immigration movement, was invited to the state by the group Utahns For Immigration Reform and Enforcement, or UFIRE, a group that battered Cannon over his immigration stance during his 2004 re-election bid.

He agreed to spend Aug. 24 to 25 in the state, making appearances in St. George, Provo and Salt Lake City. On behalf of UFIRE, Bluffdale City Councilwoman Martha Speed invited Cannon to debate Tancredo at an event in Provo on Aug. 24, but Cannon said he will be indisposed.

"Congressman Cannon plans to spend the 24th at home working on his irrigation system,” said his chief of staff, Joe Hunter. “However, given Mr. Tancredo's recent interest in religious sites, we would suggest our visitor from Colorado might want to occupy his time touring [LDS] Temple Square."

The reference to Tancredo's “interest in religious sites” is a dig at recent comments he made in a radio interview that, if Muslim terrorists mount a nuclear strike in the United States, that the United States should retaliate by bombing Muslim holy sites, including Mecca.

“What are we dealing with here, an arrogant jokester?” asked UFIRE chairman Russell Sias.

“Do we disagree with Representative Cannon's stand? Absolutely. But we don't have to set him up. The issues themselves will do that. When you're wrong, you're wrong.”

Cannon's spokesman, Charles Isom, said, “Congressman Cannon is going to engage in this debate on the floor of Congress and he doesn't really see this as a productive way to advance this debate.”

Recently, Tancredo has been visiting presidential primary states trying to force Republican candidates to take a hard-line stance on immigration and, if none does, has not ruled out running himself.

He and Cannon have a rocky past, due to Cannon's support for President Bush's immigration policies, and sponsorship of legislation that would allow illegal immigrants to earn citizenship working in the agricultural industry.