In this corner, Rocky Anderson — scrappy civil-rights attorney turned Salt Lake City mayor and outspoken critic of the Iraq war and the Bush administration. And in this corner, Sean Hannity — a former construction worker and bartender who is now a controversial conservative radio and television pundit.

In a clash between these two, who could possibly stand as referee?

The choice of moderator for a planned debate between the two has been one of several sticking points in the public battle over the showdown's details.

Having it out on KSL-Newsradio's Doug Wright Show on Wednesday, the two agreed to let University of Utah political science professor and professional pollster Dan Jones pick the moderator — subject, of course, to either Hannity's or Anderson's veto.

The two have already ruled out many potential contenders.

"Is there a problem with Doug Wright doing it?" Hannity asked on Wright's show.

"Because I know you both, I think it would be a good idea to have another moderator," Wright said.

Maybe someone else in the local media, Hannity suggested. But Anderson doesn't want to give any one media outlet a leg up on the others.

The Associated Students of the University of Utah, which will host the debate, had suggested KUED associate director Ken Verdoia, and Anderson agreed. But Wright pointed out that Verdoia is himself a member of the media.

Wright floated the idea of Kirk Jowers, director of the U.'s Hinckley Institute of Politics who has advised more than 30 GOP congressional candidates and provided legal counsel to Bush's 2000 presidential campaign.

"A Republican shill from way back?" Anderson responded.

Jones said Wednesday afternoon that he had no idea whom he might choose. He said it would be someone "kind of nonpartisan, maybe a retired judge."

Both Verdoia and Jowers said they would accept if invited — adding that they're not angling for the position. But when discussing what would make someone a good moderator, Verdoia said it should be someone "who does not have a horse in this race" — a trait he attributed to himself.

"I do not accept Mayor Anderson's premise that impeachment is an advisable course of action, and I certainly do not accept Mr. Hannity's daily recitation of his belief" that the war has been well-executed and that to question it is subversive, Verdoia said.

Jowers also dismissed the idea that he's a shill.

"Anyone can Google my background and see that I have Republican ties, and I certainly don't want to run from my background," he said. "On the other hand, my entire job here at the Hinckley Institute is to make opportunities available to students from the far left, from the far right, and I've done that."

He suggested it might work to have two moderators — maybe Jowers and his more liberal predecessor at the institute, former Mayor Ted Wilson.

But why would anyone want to get in the middle of this debate? Apparently, it's the chance to participate in the civic dialog.

"Anytime we can get people talking about the issues other than Britney Spears ...we need to do that," Jowers said.

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E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com