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In its latest
response to scrutiny over Rubio's personal spending, his
campaign on Saturday released details of 22 month's worth of
charges on an American Express credit card issued to him while a
state representative.
The U.S. senator has long faced questions about his personal
finances, but his recent rise in public opinion polls has
renewed attention over how he has managed his money as rivals
try to score points over the U.S. economy.
Rubio has said he paid for all his personal charges but has
acknowledged that the expenses were confusing.
From January 2005 through October 2006, Rubio charged $64,777.82
on the card, $7,243.74 of which was for eight personal expenses,
according to the campaign.
"Marco paid his personal charges directly to American Express,"
his campaign said. "The Republican Party of Florida did not pay
for any of Marco’s personal expenses. Further, taxpayer funds
were not used for any political or personal charges on the
card."
Some of the personal charges included $3,756.24 at a Miami-based
tile store and others to a hotel and a car rental agency in Las
Vegas, a Honda dealership and a children's activity center, it
added.
The Las Vegas charges stemmed from a business trip that Rubio
extended to visit relatives, the campaign said. It did not say
why Rubio put the other personal expenses on the card.
Earlier this week, Rubio told ABC: "In hindsight, I would do it
differently to avoid all this confusion."
Rubio's finances were an issue during his 2010 run for the U.S.
Senate, and he has faced questions over his mortgage payments
and a liquidated retirement account.
On Tuesday, Republican rival Donald Trump, a businessman and
television personality, pounced on Rubio. "He is a disaster with
his credit cards," the businessman and television personality
told a press conference. "He certainly lives beyond his means."
"I only have one debt in the world, which is my mortgage on a
home for me and my family," Rubio told ABC's "Good Morning
America" on Wednesday. "I obviously don't come from a wealthy
family."
Also this week, fellow Florida Republican and rival Jeb Bush
pointed to Rubio's spending, the New York Times reported.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Additional reporting by Steve
Holland; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)
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