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Rubio: 'Hopefully we can avoid' pursuing Romney's preferred China strategy

Though he supports his party's candidate when it comes to domestic pay issues, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) takes a more cautious approach when discussing Mitt Ro
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) addresses the final session of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 30, 2012. (Photo: Reuters/Jason Reed
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) addresses the final session of the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida August 30, 2012. (Photo: Reuters...

Though he supports his party's candidate when it comes to domestic pay issues, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) takes a more cautious approach when discussing Mitt Romney's foreign economic policy. If elected, Romney has promised to confront China about currency manipulation on his first day in office and designate the country a currency manipulator --but Rubio's not so sure that's the best approach.

"I believe that a trade war is not the right way to approach it and I think that if you label them a currency manipulator, that's what it may result in," the Florida senator said on CBS' Face the Nation. It would hurt American businesses." Rubio did say he agrees with Romney that China does manipulate currency.

"We may have to label them a currency manipulator… It may come to that, but hopefully we can avoid that," Rubio said. The New York Times recently published a report on Romney and Bain Capital's financial ties to China, which seem to counter his campaign messaging.

Romney's foreign policy credentials were attacked elsewhere on the Sunday shows ahead of Monday's final presidential debate, which will focus on international relations.

Senior Obama adviser David Axelrod appeared on NBC's Meet the Press and said Romney has been wrong on Libya and Iraq.

"People want to know that they have a strong, steady hand in the Oval Office. They don't want someone who's reckless and who's been consistently wrong on foreign policy issues as Governor Romney has," Axelrod said. "We all remember his Dukes of Hazzard tour of international destinations over the summer where he not only roiled countries that are not as friendly to us but our best ally, Britain."