(Newser)
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Marco Rubio is seen by many as the GOP's frontrunner for the 2012 vice presidential nod—but that could change for the faction of the GOP that's ill at ease with the Mormon church. BuzzFeed reveals that the Florida senator was once a Mormon, having been baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around age eight, though he had returned to the Catholic Church by age 13. Rubio's cousins told the story to BuzzFeed, and a Rubio spokesman confirms it, but the site notes that aides appear to see the story as potentially detrimental and have gone into damage-control mode.
The GOP presidential candidate will have to consider ticket balancing when choosing a VP candidate, and BuzzFeed notes that Romney's Mormonism and Rubio's Catholicism would already mean two minority traditions would be appearing on a Republican ticket together for the first time. Further complicating matters: Rubio never requested for his name to be removed from the records of the LDS Church, and he also frequents a non-denominational Baptist church these days. Click for the full story, including Rubio's cousins reminiscing about his enthusiasm for LDS activities and love for the Osmond family.
