The US senator from Florida said it was "outrageous" to suggest that he had altered his family history for political gain, after the Washington Post unearthed public documents showing that his parents Mario and Oriales arrived in the United States in May 1956, two and a half years before the communist takeover in their home island.
Mr Rubio has repeatedly described himself as the "son of exiles" and made his family's reasons for leaving Cuba a central part of his political profile.
The fact that his parents appear to have been simple economic migrants will however dent his image as a strong proponent of America as a sanctuary from tyranny and could prove damaging to his prospects. The 40-year-old with good looks and sharp rhetorical skills has been widely tipped as a potential vice-presidential nominee in 2012 thanks also to his appeal to Hispanic voters and following in the country's largest swing state. » | Alex Spillius, Washington | Friday, October 21, 2011
