Sneed exclusive: Trump willing to consider a woman for VP

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The Trump report

GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump tells Sneed he would be open to having a woman as his running mate.

Trump, who continues to soar in the polls despite a femme flap/furor stemming from a question posited by FOX debate moderator Megyn Kelly over derogatory names she claimed Trump had called women in the past, tells Sneed:

“Certainly, I would consider a woman as a running mate,” said Trump.

“I am all for the concept. It would have to be the right person and I’m not going to go into who that would be right now. But I have great respect for women. I have great respect for women who are executives in my company. I have great respect for women’s judgment.

“Having a woman as a running mate is certainly a consideration. A very good consideration. It would be something I would strongly consider.”

Trump’s delight in the enthusiasm he is encountering on the campaign trail is always evidenced in my brief, but informative, phone interviews with the real estate/reality star who has now become a political juggernaut.

“I am leading in the polls in Iowa and New Hampshire and had a wonderful time in Michigan, where the level of enthusiasm was amazing!” he said.

“Three thousand people showed up [at his event in Michigan] and 1,000 had to be turned away. Just like in Chicago at the City Club of Chicago event months ago. It all began in Chicago. It all began with your column in the Sun-Times about my speaking engagement there and the fact thousands of people wanted a ticket . . . and thousands had to be turned away.

“It appeared even before I publicly declared my intention to run for president. It’s a safe bet our country needs to be smart and tough and not have the world take advantage of us! Jobs are going. Money is going. Everything is going and we have to stop it.”

“Gotta go. Am waiting to see the result of the latest CNN poll.”

Bye, Donald. Over and out.

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Hawk squawk …

Is Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz bringing his hockey sticks to Springfield to pry apart the legislative logjam?

• Translation: Sneed is told the famous Stanley Cup, accompanied by Wirtz, will not only cut the ribbon at the State Fair on Friday . . . but will appear at an Illinois Mansion Association breakfast attended by Gov. Bruce Rauner to raise private funds to renovate the aging pile known as the governor’s mansion; make rounds at the Capitol Rotunda; and then head over to the home of Rocky’s Aunt Betty — daughter of the legendary Arthur Wirtz and sister of Rocky’s late father, Bill, before heading out of Springfield.

Zopp zap . . .

In advance of her Dem primary opponent, U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., U.S. Senate hopeful Andrea Zopp has come out in support of President Obama’s deal with Iran.

In an essay to be released Thursday, Zopp outlines her opinion on the plan, which Obama hopes will block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon.

“After a great deal of reading and much study I stand with President Obama and many political and religious leaders, and national security experts from the United States and abroad, in support of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the agreement forged between the United States, our P5+1 partners and Iran to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. I find that the agreement has the fundamental elements — restrictions that block Iran’s pathway to a nuclear weapon, verification, and strong consequences for violations — that provide greater safety and security for all, both in the Middle East and the world.

“There are, of course risks, in effectively implementing an agreement of this complexity with a historically untrustworthy and devious counter party. However, I believe that with the growing strains in the existing sanctions regime and Iran’s increasing proximity to a nuclear weapon despite the existing sanctions, the diplomatic approach represented by the JCPOA is the best path to ensuring the security of the United States and our allies in the Middle East and the world.”

Sneedlings . . .

Thursday’s birthdays: Danny Bonaduce, 56; Debi Mazar, 51, and Kathleen Battle, 67.

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