Trump Says Rubio Should Exit Presidential Race. Rubio's Campaign Shoots Back Defiant Response.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marco Rubio's campaign for president is rejecting Donald Trump's call for the Florida senator to get out of the Republican race for president.

Rubio campaign spokesman Alex Conant says, "Trump's history as a con artist is being exposed. He canceled CPAC today because he's not a conservative."

Trump was scheduled to speak on Saturday at the annual gathering of conservative activists in suburban Washington. He instead made a campaign stop in Kansas.

The billionaire businessman won nominating contests in Louisiana and Kentucky. At a news conference, he says Rubio should leave the race. Says Trump, "Marco has to get out of the race. Has to."

With 123 delegates, Rubio is 252 delegates behind Trump in the race for the 1,237 needed to win the Republican nomination for president.

Conant says, "Trump knows that Marco has the momentum in Florida and is afraid because he knows losing those 99 delegates to Marco will be a turning point in this race."