Romney woos Southerners: I had some 'cheesy grits' at the Hilton, y'all

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Thursday appealed to Southern voters by proclaiming his love for grits.

At an event in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the former Massachusetts governor declared that "strange things are happening to me" during his trip to Dixie.

"I am learning to say y'all, and I like grits and things," he joked.

Romney turned on the Southern charm again on Friday at the Farmer's Market in Jackson.

"Mornin' y'all," the candidate said with a grin. "Good to be with you."

"I got started right this morning with a biscuit and some cheesy grits, I'll tell ya. Delicious," he added. "Hilton Garden Inn knows just what to serve me in the morning."

Romney has previously tried to appeal to racing fans in the South by saying that he didn’t follow the sport closely as some fans “but I have some friends who are NASCAR team owners.”

“Look, I’ve worn a garbage bag for rain gear myself,” he told Fox News host Bill O'Reilly last week.

On Thursday, the former governor tried to lower expectations for the Saturday primaries in Alabama and Mississippi.

“I realize it’s a bit of an away game," Romney said during a radio interview in Birmingham. "I'm confident we are going to get some delegates. That, of course, is what this is all about."

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has taken the top prize in previous contests in South Carolina and Georgia.

UPDATE (5:45 p.m. ET): The King Edward Grill at the Hilton Garden Inn told Raw Story that grits are available as a part of their breakfast buffet which costs $14.95 per person.

Watch this video from CNN and MSNBC, broadcast March. 9, 2012.