Gov. Nathan Deal says he's supporting Mitt Romney for president and he's confident Georgia voters will too.

After staying mum about presidential politics in his speech to the weekend convention of the Georgia Republican Party, Deal told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday that he's spoken with Romney and "certainly I will support his candidacy."

Deal had been a strong supporter of Newt Gingrich, who easily won Georgia's Super Tuesday primary in March. The governor did not publicly declare his support for Romney when Gingrich dropped out of the race May 2.

Deal said he's certain Georgia voters who "support a conservative" to take the White House in November will end up backing Romney.

The governor said: "He's conservative enough for me."

Tags: Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, 2012 presidential race, 2012 presidential election