TORONTO

Mayor Rob Ford says he knows what women want for Christmas — money.

In what is becoming one of the few times he speaks publicly due to his ongoing crack cocaine scandal, Ford called in again to “The Sports Junkies” show on a Washington, D.C., radio station Thursday and along with making his weekly football picks, Ford shed some light on what he’s getting his wife Renata for Christmas.

“Just money, women love money,” Ford told the hosts. “You give them a couple thousand bucks and they’re happy.

“Get some treats on the side obviously for her but she says, ‘I want cash honey, I want cash.’”

The hosts asked if Ford puts the cash in a Christmas card at least.

“Oh yeah, yeah, I get a basket and flowers and a little bit of this and that but at the end of the day, she wants her cash so I give her a nice cheque and we’re all happy,” Ford said.

Ford went on to say he’s got a “fantastic wife” and they’ll be going out shopping for their two kids.

Councillor Sarah Doucette said “money is not what you give your wife.”

“Maybe a nice outfit, maybe go on a nice holiday,” she said.

Asked if she finds the comment offensive, Doucette shrugged.

“I’ve given up getting offended,” she said.

Ford also told the Sports Junkies he is brimming with confidence about the next election campaign — which is set to start Jan. 2.

“It is going to be a war but it is going to be fun, let me tell you,” Ford said.

He repeated an invite to the Junkies to come to Toronto and broadcast live from the mayor’s office.

“I’m telling you it is happening,” Ford said, promising to treat the hosts “like kings.”

Asked where they should eat while they are here, Ford suggested Harbour Sixty.

While he cautioned it was “expensive,” Ford lauded it as “the best steakhouse in the world.”