TAMPA, Florida (AP) - Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida says Mitt Romney knows what makes America exceptional.

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Rubio told the GOP convention Thursday night that Romney understands prosperity doesn't happen because the government spends more money, that it happens because people use their own money to open businesses.

Rubio says the problem with President Barack Obama isn't that he's a bad person - it's that he's a bad president who favors tired ideas like big government.

READ: Marco Rubio's speech (PDF)

The first-term senator and Cuban-American is a rising GOP star and a tea party favorite. He was reported to be among Romney's running mate choices.

Republicans hope Rubio can boost Romney, who is having a tough time winning over Latino voters.

Rubio introduced Romney as the former Massachusetts governor prepared to formally accept his party's presidential nomination.

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