WASHINGTON (CNN) - New White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley might have gone too far when he was doling out compliments for U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman.

"Our Manchurian candidate" is how Daley jokingly referred to Huntsman while talking to reporters at a breakfast hosted by Bloomberg News. "No question he's done a fine job," Daley said. "He's played an integral part in this administration's foreign policy."

The comments of praise came two days after Huntsman sent his letter of resignation to President Obama. Huntsman's resignation is effective at the end of April when many have reported he will begin testing the waters for a 2012 presidential run against Obama.