Could Puerto Rico officially become the 51st state? According to Puerto Rican Gov. Luis Fortuño that may be the case during a Mitt Romney presidency.

In series of interviews, Fortuño said Romney looked him "in the eye" and pledged that if Puerto Ricans asked for statehood on Nov. 6, the leadership necessary to complete the process will be provided.

"He [Romney] looked me straight in the eye and he told me that he was convinced that Puerto Ricans had contributed to the nation for so long, yet we were not partaking fully in the responsibilities and benefits of our citizenship, and that it was about time that we decide what we want to do, and should that be statehood that he would provide the leadership necessary to move that forward," Fortuño told the Daily Caller.

If Puerto Rico's entire electorate votes to move towards becoming a U.S. state, it would require a process that include debate in Congress and a plebiscite vote.

"It's a long process, but it's worth taking, after being American citizens for almost 100 years and being part of the United States for 120," Fortuño said.

Fortuño said he is not sure what position Congress would take if Puerto Rican's were to vote for statehood.

"What I can tell you is - and I served for four years in Congress - what I can tell you is that they'll be open to a request that is supported by a majority of voters," Fortuño said. "But that has not happened before, so it will be up to the voters in Puerto Rico to request statehood. And then we can move on to the next stage."

According to Fortuño, a Romney administration would include Puerto Rico in job creation programs and protection of Puerto Rico's borders from drug traffickers.

Fortuño said job creation is of utmost concern to Puerto Ricans and the GOP will have to focus on that to get their vote.

Fortuño spoke at the Republican National Convention on Aug. 29 in Tampa.