GOP presidential hopefuls court Chris Christie

It's not just Mitt Romney who is trying to woo Chris Christie ahead of the 2012 campaign.

The New Jersey governor tells CNBC's Larry Kudlow that he's also had recent meetings with other Republicans rumored to be eying a White House bid, including Tim Pawlenty, Mitch Daniels and Haley Barbour.

"They are all really credible folks," Christie told Kudlow.

He called Daniels "one of the brightest governors in America" and said he had "great respect" for Barbour and Pawlenty. Christie called Romney, for whom he hosted a private dinner on Monday, "a friend."

"We had a nice meal together, and we had a good conversation," Christie said.

But he cautioned that he wasn't close to endorsing anyone in the GOP race.

"We're far away from making any kind of decision on who we might support for president," Christie said.

An endorsement from the New Jersey governor would be a big get for any candidate in the 2012 primary. Christie, who has fended off 2012 speculation of his own, is considered a rising star in the GOP. Earlier this month, he was picked to headline the congressional GOP's annual fund-raising dinner, a position usually doled out to top GOP leaders.

(Photo of Christie: Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)