Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio Marco Antonio RubioFlorida senators pushing to keep Daylight Savings Time during pandemic Hillicon Valley: DOJ indicts Chinese, Malaysian hackers accused of targeting over 100 organizations | GOP senators raise concerns over Oracle-TikTok deal | QAnon awareness jumps in new poll Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings MORE plans to skip the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this year, Breitbart News reported Tuesday.

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The American Conservative Union (ACU), which hosts the event, said in a statement to Breitbart News that Rubio and his campaign have made a "rookie mistake," adding, however, that the Florida senator has a conservative record and high rating from the organization.

"Today the Rubio campaign informed ACU’s chairman that their candidate is unwilling to make time to meet with activists and answer their questions at CPAC 2016," ACU said in the statement.

"Sen. Rubio cannot have it both ways: he cannot hope to be the inspirational leader of conservatives and at the same time hide at the very moments when activists who compose the heart and soul of the movement assemble and organize."

Rubio's spokesman, Alex Conant, said in an email to Breitbart News that "we have not set our March schedule yet," when asked why Rubio was skipping CPAC, which will be held from March 2 to 5 at National Harbor Maryland, near Washington, D.C.

The ACU statement noted that former President Ronald Reagan came to CPAC 13 times. This year's CPAC theme is based on Reagan's first public address after his 1980 election: "Our Time is Now."

"Reagan’s words ring even truer today than when Reagan first said them. If we do not carry the country in 2016 America will be a different nation," the statement to Breitbart said.

"But if conservatives are not central to the effort we will fail before we even begin."

The ACU also told Breitbart that current and former candidates Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE, Ted Cruz Rafael (Ted) Edward CruzLoeffler calls for hearing in wake of Netflix's 'Cuties' Health care in the crosshairs with new Trump Supreme Court list 'Parks and Rec' cast members hosting special reunion to raise money for Wisconsin Democrats MORE, Ben Carson, Scott Walker and Carly Fiorina "have made CPAC 2016 a priority."

"They honor Reagan’s legacy and they honor the thousands of conservative activists who will spend significant resources to travel to CPAC to learn, be inspired, and eventually vote in our straw poll for the person they want to carry the Reagan torch."

Rubio finished seventh in last year's CPAC straw poll, with 3.7 percent. He placed second in the CPAC straw poll in 2013, with 23 percent.