The Hill News

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) talked up two New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) as possible GOP presidential candidates in 2012.

The top House Republican had words of praise for Daniels and Christie, the most Boehner has really said to date about the field of candidates for the nomination.

"I do," Boehner said on NBC's "Today" show, when asked if Christie would make a good nominee. "I know him pretty well, he's done a great job, and he speaks English."

Christie has refused to run for president despite many Republicans' beckoning, and a group of Iowa conservatives are heading to New Jersey to meet with Christie, hoping to convince him to change his mind. Boehner also spontaneously praised Daniels, another possible candidate favored as a dark-horse candidate by many Republicans.

"I think Mitch Daniels is looking pretty seriously at this -- another real who's got a serious track record of r! eform in his state," Boehner said.

The Speaker has been largely coy to date about his thoughts on the contenders for the Republican nomination in 2012. It's likely that he'll stay neutral in the primary given the stature of his position, he said Monday.

Boehner had some praise for one of his predecessors as Speaker, Newt Gingrich, who will announce his presidential candidate on Wednesday. Boehner called Gingrich a "good friend" who will "bring a lot to the debate."

The Speaker was less effusive about real estate mogul Donald Trump, who's also considering his own bid for the Republican nomination.

"There are a lot of good candidates out there, Donald Trump being one of them -- maybe," he said.

The Ohio Republican also said that he expects more Republicans to get into the race before the field is settled.