Rubio's Finances a Mess

Marco Rubio has the makings of a GOP vice presidential candidate. The Florida senator is a young, charismatic fiscal conservative, and his Hispanic heritage doesn't hurt. He's Newt Gingrich's running-mate flavor of the week, probably because he's trying desperately to woo Florida's 450,000 Hispanic Republicans. But can Rubio help a campaign win? Like many in his state, Rubio has been affected by the mortgage crisis, owing more than his $384,000 Miami home is worth and has had a hard time paying his mortgage as well as his student loans. His inability to pay his bills is well known in Florida, though supporters have denied that his debts are significant. While he downplays any talk of the vice presidency, Rubio has inserted himself into the Republican primary race, imploring the candidates to tone down their aggressive rhetoric while campaigning in his state.