Erin Kelly

USA TODAY

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas mocked GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump on Friday for Trump's announcement that he was cancelling his appearance before the Conservative Political Action Conference.

"So Donald Trump is skipping CPAC," said Cruz, who accused Trump of not being a true conservative. "I think somebody told him (Fox News host) Megyn Kelly was going to be here. Or, even worse, somebody told him conservatives were going to be here."

Trump was scheduled to appear at the annual national conservative gathering here Saturday, but cancelled to campaign in Kansas instead ahead of Saturday caucuses there.

Cruz said that Super Tuesday proved that he is the only Republican candidate who can beat Trump. Cruz has won four of the 15 primaries and caucuses held so far. Trump won all the rest.

The senator said he agrees with 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney that Trump cannot beat Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the general election in November. He urged other candidates' supporters to unite behind him, calling on Ben Carson's followers to join his campaign just minutes before Carson announced to the crowd that he was dropping out of the GOP race.

"If you're one of those 65 to 70 percent (of Republicans) that recognize that Donald is not the best candidate to win, then what is critical is that we come together," Cruz said.

He also took a swipe at Clinton, saying that she could be in real trouble now that the former aide who set up her private email server has accepted an immunity offer from the FBI. The agency is trying to determine if Clinton sent classified information over the server.

"I think this is an ominous development for Hillary Clinton," Cruz said. He then compared the situation to a scene from a Mafia movie.

"When Pauly flips and goes to the feds, it ain't good for Fat Tony," he said.

"We've never had a general election debate convened in Leavenworth (federal prison), but this year might be the first," Cruz added.