Nationally syndicated talk show host Mike Gallager tapes a segment of his show from the KHMO studios in Hannibal. (C-P photo/Amanda Stratford)

What do you think about businesses offering refunds to dissatisfied customers?

Those were just a couple of the topics touched on by national radio talk show host Mike Gallagher during the 9 o'clock hour of his syndicated program, which originated Tuesday morning from the studios of KHMO in Hannibal.

Gallagher was in Hannibal to promote his new book - "Surrounded BY IDIOTS: Fighting Liberal Lunacy in America" - which was released last week by William Morrow, an Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

The visit to Hannibal was the third on a scheduled 21 city tour that began June 29 in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, and will end July 28 in Johnson City, Tenn.

"I can honestly say that it's the most difficult undertaking we've ever attempted in the years of doing this radio show," said Gallagher of the tour, during a break in Tuesday morning's show. "The logistics of it have just been real challenging. But so far - we're on our third stop here in Hannibal - it's going well.

"Every station has its own set of issues that we want to accommodate because our affiliates are our life blood; we're partners with these radio stations. KHMO has carried our show now for a couple of years and we want to make sure they are real happy."

Mike Gallager autographs books for Hannibal fans. (C-P photo/Amanda Stratford)

Gallagher is sensitive to the fact that during the tour he will be unable to visit about 170 of the stations which air his talk show, which attracts a national audience of 3.25 million listeners every week.

"We don't want to exclude the listeners who aren't part of this book tour, so there's a tough balance between making sure the affiliates (being visited) are happy and making sure the affiliates not on the book tour are happy," he said.

Gallagher, who is the sixth most listened to talk show host in the nation, has done a good job of keeping both affiliates and listeners happy in an arena filled with choices.

"Sometimes I think there are more syndicated radio hosts than there are listeners in the country," he said with a smile. "There's a lot of us out there vying for our own little piece of the pie.

"We're real proud to be ranked the No. 6 or 7 most listened to radio show right now in America. In a field that is so crowded and so competitive with the great big talents like the Michael Savages and the (Sean) Hannitys, and everybody else, we've done really well in the six or seven years we've been in national syndication."

The game plan for providing a product that will draw listeners is not complicated.

"Good talk radio is personality driven. Ultimately, if you disagree with me, I hope that a listener will say, 'You know the guy is a pretty decent guy. That Gallagher, he may be a dope on some issues, but he's our dope.' That's been a formula for success over the years and I'm proud of that, and I'm proud of my 'relateability,'" said Gallagher.

A frequent contributor to the Fox News Channel, Gallagher is not afraid to share with listeners about his wife, Denise, who he describes as a "liberal Democrat," their four sons and even their two dogs. He also talks from the perspective of a homeowner and taxpayer.

"People relate to that. I like personal stories as much as anything else. I think that's why the show has been winning," he said.

There are other factors which separate Gallagher from other talk show hosts.

"I'm a big mouth conservative on the air, but I also don't carry water for the Republican Party. I mean, I think I reflect the way most Americans feel. You take each issue as they come and evaluate them on a case-by-case basis," he said. "I really believe in brutal honesty on the radio show. I'm not safe. I don't want to play it safe. I think that's what makes the show win."

One of the hottest topics on the Gallagher show is the war in Iraq.

"It's a very polarizing issue. My audience tends to be largely in support of the troops and the war on terror," said Gallagher, whose charitable foundation has raised money for the troops and their families over the last two years. "But certainly there is a bit of divisiveness in the wind. There are people who are staunchly opposed to this war and have been from Day 1.

"We think that there needs to be a reminder that no matter what you feel about the war, you've got to support the troops and their families. I fear that some of our voices in America do not."

While the war is a topic listeners are willing to discuss, Gallagher likes exploring a broad spectrum of issues.

"There are two types of issues that we do: We do the kind of issues that are making headlines, like the Supreme Court vacancy. But we also love doing topics like movie theaters giving money back to dissatisfied film goers," he said. "I like lifestyle issues as much as I like hot-button political issues. Our show I hope is a good heady mix of both of those kinds of topics."

Gallagher told listeners that he would not favor the nomination of Gonzales to the Supreme Court, preferring someone who would not support abortion on demand, such as Janice Rogers Brown, an associate justice of the California Supreme Court, whose nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals was confirmed last month.

In regard to the money-back guarantee that AMC Theatres is offering for the movie Cinderella Man, Gallagher endorses the plan. Gallagher also shared that he wishes such an offer had applied to Sideways and Lost in Translation, a pair of movies he described as "stink bombs."