J. Scott Applewhite / AP

Sen. Marco Rubio is surrounded by reporters during a tour of the convention floor at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Slideshow: Republican National Convention

Charles Dharapak / AP

Republicans gather in Tampa, Florida to officially nominate Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, as the party's candidates for the 2012 presidential election.

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Florida Senator Marco Rubio was often discussed as a potential running mate for Mitt Romney. Though he didn't get the honor, he'll have an important role in the Republican National Convention on Thursday night when he introduces Romney. Today the press greeted him in a way that recognizes his importance in the party, and the importance of the Latino vote. 

Story: As Republicans build their farm team, Latinos are in demand

More photos from the RNC on PhotoBlog and in our slideshow at right

Full coverage

Shannon Stapleton / Reuters

Mitt Romney watches Florida Senator Marco Rubio bowl an orange down the aisle aboard a charter flight from St. Augustine to Miami, Florida, August 13, 2012.

Politico's Ginger Gibson reports that members of the press aboard Mitt Romney's plane engaged the presidential candidate in a time-honored campaign tradition: airplane bowling.

Marco Rubio took notice first, sending the fruit cruising back to the press with exquisite aim. Then Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi gave it a try. 

Finally noticing the game that was unfolding, Romney decided to play along, climbing out of his window seat with a smile and giving the fruit a roll down the aisle to the cheers of the press.

After one last return shot from the press, Rubio picked up the orange and sitting backward in the seat pretended to throw the fruit across the plane, to the laughter and cheers of the press. Read the full story.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Romney watches as an orange rolls up the aisle of his campaign plane en route to Miami, Florida.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Rubio pretends to throw an orange as Romney looks on aboard his campaign plane.

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• Romney accuses Obama of running campaign of 'smear', 'dirt', 'deception'
• Video: Will Ryan fire up conservative base?
• Slideshow: Mitt Romney

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