NEW YORK (AP) -- After John Kerry pronounced himself a fan of Bill O'Reilly, the Fox News Channel host is hoping that will translate into a pre-election interview.

"I like Bill O'Reilly," the Democratic presidential candidate told TV Guide. "I think he does a terrific job. I think he's got a very good show."

Kerry said he'd "love to" appear on "The O'Reilly Factor" and would ask his schedulers about it.

O'Reilly, who interviewed President Bush for telecasts last week on the top-rated cable news program, told The Associated Press he'd been trying for about two months to book Kerry. (Kerry said he was unaware of any invitation.)

O'Reilly said he sensed some internal debate within the Kerry campaign about whether that would be wise.

It would be a trip into hostile territory, at least as far as the audience is concerned. According to a survey conducted this spring by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, 72 percent of ``The O'Reilly Factor'' viewers describe themselves as conservative, and 4 percent said they were liberal.

"This would be a huge event for John Kerry, huge," O'Reilly said Thursday. "What other media forum would attract as much attention from him? Is there one?"

Guests usually at odds with O'Reilly's audience -- such as Rosie O'Donnell and Michael Moore -- have come on "The O'Reilly Factor" and not complained about their treatment, he said.

"I think Kerry's an honest guy," O'Reilly said. ``You ask him a question and he tells you what he thinks. He's not a weasel. I just hope he's calling the shots in his campaign."

Kerry told TV Guide that Fox News Channel has been fair to him.

"I think during (the Swift Boat controversy) everybody got a little carried away," he said. "I can take my lumps. You just go out and keep on fighting and let the chips fall where they may."