CHARLESTON -- U.S. Senator-elect Joe Manchin has faith in W.Va. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin's ability to lead the state as the new governor.

Tomblin, who is the longest-serving senate president and the state's lieutenant governor, will take over as governor when Manchin resigns to take his seat in the United States Senate.

Manchin was elected in Tuesday's general election to fill out the unexpired term of the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, who died earlier this year, leaving the seat vacant.

Manchin will resign when the Secretary of State certifies the election results and Tomblin, per the state Constitution, will be the new governor.

Manchin said Wednesday following a press conference that he believes Sen. Pres. Tomblin will do a good job as governor.

"Earl Ray is prepared to step in," Manchin said. "He understands the finances. We've worked well together. Our philosophy and our politics are very similar. We're centrists. I have all the confidence in him in the world. He'll do well."

Manchin said Tomblin has had the confidence of the members of the Senate to have been elected to numerous terms as senate president.

"He's strongly fiscal and understands the dollar. He's more of a centrist," Manchin said. "We've had a very good working relationship. He's been good to work with. He's been very helpful in forming a lot of our legislation and the agenda that we have. He's taken a lot of leadership in the Senate."

Manchin drew a laugh when he commented on what kind of person Tomblin is socially.

"We love a good party. We do that very well," Manchin said.

Tomblin was working in his office and was unavailable for comment.

"He's working," Manchin said.

The Senator-elect said he and Tomblin didn't talk about what might happen in the event that Manchin won the Senate and he took over as governor.

"We didn't have that many conversations, because I don't think that's proper," Manchin said. "We didn't do it. It was one of those unspoken things -- 'This might happen. Are you prepared if it happens?' He's been preparing himself the best he can and I've been thinking, but I've had a little more to think about over the last three or four weeks and it kept us quite occupied so we haven't had the chance. Today has been dedicated towards that."

Manchin said he plans to meet soon with Tomblin to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Manchin said Tomblin understands what has to be done as a governor. Manchin said Tomblin really has a good handle on the fiscal aspect of running the state.

"I know that he has that ability and the experience and I've watched that," Manchin said. "I think he'll do a good job."

Tomblin is a native of Chapmanville in Logan County and he was elected to the House of Delegates in 1974, 1976 and 1978. He was then elected to the Senate in 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004.

Tomblin was elected January 11, 1995, as the 48th President of the Senate; and was reelected in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. He is the longest serving Senate President in West Virginia's history.

Tomblin was born March 15, 1952, in Logan County, the son of Earl and Freda (Jarrell) Tomblin. He holds degrees from West Virginia University, Marshall University and the University of Charleston.

Tomblin was married September 8, 1979, to Joanne Jaeger and they have a son, Brent Jaeger Tomblin.

Tomblin has been a self-employed businessman and is a former school teacher.

In 2004, he was elected Vice-chairman of the National Council of State

Governments (CSG),the umbrella organization for the Southern Governors Association, and became chairman in December 2005. Tomblin is the first West Virginian ever selected on this leadership track.