Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio said Monday he is “nudging” former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush to run for the Republican nomination to be president.  

Though he stopped short of endorsing anyone early in the process, Boehner named Bush, son of President George H. W. Bush and brother of President George W. Bush, as a favorite.  

“We’ve got a lot of good candidates out there. If you look historically, our best candidates have come from the ranks of governors, of former governors, and yes, Jeb Bush is my friend, I think he’d make a great president, and I’ve been nudging him for some time,” Boehner said while speaking in San Antonio to a luncheon sponsored by several area business groups. Boehner also was asked about Ohio Gov. John Kasich, whom he called a friend and golfing partner, but he said he would not feel any obligation to support him simply because he is from the same state.  

“We’ll let them all sort it out. I’m not endorsing anybody,” he said.  

Boehner, in Texas on a fundraising swing this week while the House is on recess, also weighed in on the new special select committee on the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya, and on Republican priorities on a long-stalled immigration overhaul.  

On the Benghazi committee, the speaker said the panel’s work would not be impeded if Democrats decide to boycott.  

On immigration, Boehner said most House Republicans support an overhaul of the immigration system, as long as the work is done step-by-step, with the border secured first.  

Boehner said House Republicans don’t trust President Barack Obama to enforce laws as they are written and passed on Capitol Hill and suggested the White House needs to take steps to repair that relationship.