When he became Florida's youngest House Speaker, Rubio received a golden sword from then governor Jeb Bush — a gift that confirmed Rubio, now 39, as Bush's political heir. If the son of Cuban exiles can win the state's open Senate seat, he'll go from prodigy to bona fide conservative hero.
Who is your political hero/inspiration?
Ronald Reagan
What's your go-to political blog?
Red State
If you weren't working in politics, what would you be doing?
Practicing law, teaching and trying to land an NFL front office job.
What's the most overlooked issue facing America these days?
The national security component of our federal debt.
Where do you see yourself professionally in five years?
Hopefully in the U.S. Senate working to protect America's exceptionalism.