To the great satisfaction of his supporters who have seen their candidate get unfairly dragged over the coals repeatedly by Breitbart News, Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio finally pushed back.

And Rubio said what those who’ve been paying attention have known all along — that Breitbart News has become a “conspiracy” website that’s hardly credible.

Appearing with Fox News’ Neil Cavuto, Rubio made a rare exception and responded to a shameful hit piece put out on him by the website on the eve of Saturday’s South Carolina primary. The hatchet job took on added significance when given a hefty assist by Drudge, which featured the attack as its top story.

Cavuto asked Rubio about “ICE officials” saying he was not consistent in his push for border security while involved with the Gang of 8 immigration bill and failed to follow through on changes they suggested to the legislation.

“Number one, that’s not true,” Rubio said. “And he’s not an ICE official he’s the head of a union. And it’s being reported on a website that’s not a credible source.”

Talk about an understatement.

“It’s the same website Neil that said that you guys gave me the questions to the debate because one of the members of my staff…,” he continued, before being cut off by Cavuto.

“This was Breitbart,” Cavuto said. “So you don’t give them any credence?”

“We don’t even credential them for our events,” Rubio replied. “I literally don’t talk about the things they report because they’re basically conspiracy theories and often times manipulated.”

Just hours before South Carolinian’s were set to vote, Breitbart News continued a habit of attacking Rubio that borders on obsession, posting an interview with a border patrol union leader who made a number of damning claims about the Florida senator in regard to the Gang of 8 immigration bill.

The union leader based his position on a meeting with Rubio that he went to alone — meaning none of his claims can be corroborated.

He said Rubio “didn’t permit me to take anyone with me to the meeting— he didn’t want any witnesses.”

In reality, much of what the union boss says amounts to little more than his personal opinion of the legislation, such as him claiming that it made the “legalization of criminal aliens and gang members a priority.”

*Cross-posted at FloridaRattletale.wordpress.com