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TX-Sen: Stephen Colbert mocks Ted Cruz for buying ads during Beto O'Rourke's 'Late Show' appearance
Sen. Ted Cruz ran ads during Congressman Beto O'Rourke's appearance on the "Late Show" this week. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

TX-Sen: Stephen Colbert mocks Ted Cruz for buying ads during Beto O'Rourke's 'Late Show' appearance

Texas Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke has become known for his road-tripping across the Lone Star State, but the Democrat has also been making cross-country trips to appear on some liberal hosts' talk shows.

O'Rourke was a guest Wednesday on CBS' “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert." Colbert used the opportunity to mock incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz for buying TV ad time during O'Rourke's appearance.

“Beto is running in Texas against incumbent senator and man whose campaign staff is definitely watching the show right now, Ted Cruz, because it is close, which is scaring the Republicans,” Colbert told the audience.

“Here’s how scared Ted Cruz is of Beto O’Rourke. He bought ads on my show tonight to counter his interview,” Colbert continued.

Cruz's ads aired in four Texas markets: Waco, Amarillo, San Antonio, and O'Rourke's hometown of El Paso, according to records filed with the Federal Communication Commission, the Houston Chronicle reported.

Last week, O'Rourke appeared on "The Ellen Show" with Ellen Degeneres.

What did Colbert say?

Colbert spent four minutes mocking the Texas senator and his ads against O'Rourke.

"So earlier this summer, in order to save the Cruz campaign, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick showed up in Washington to deliver an urgent plea to White House officials: Send President Donald Trump," Colbert said. "You know it's bad when you need backup from a man with a 36 percent approval rating."

"Their backup plan is a celebrity endorsement from the Herpes virus," he added.

Colbert went on to rip a Cruz campaign ad featuring O'Rourke from his days in a punk rock band. The ad shows the U.S. congressman wearing what appears to be a floral dress.

"People online seemed to like the fact that Beto was in a cool punk band and pointed out that Ted Cruz played Adam in a mime performance of the Christian creation story when he was in high school," Colbert said of the ad.

He went on to add that the GOP's tweet featuring O'Rourke's mugshot from a DWI backfired.

"Some people responded with tweets like, 'Why'd they tweet this photo of Beto looking hot as f***?'" Colbert said.

What did O'Rourke say?

O'Rourke told Colbert that his nickname, Beto, is not uncommon for people named Robert in his hometown. His real name is Robert Francis O'Rourke.

El Paso sits on the border of Texas and Mexico. His views on immigration and border security are far from those of Cruz who wants to secure the borders.

"We don't need a wall," O'Rourke told Colbert.

"[El Paso] happens to be one of, if not the safest cities in the United States of America. And what makes us so safe is we are a city of immigrants and we treat one another with respect and dignity," he continued. "I think that's fundamental to security, to success, to safety."

Colbert brought up the tight race and Trump's plans to campaign for Cruz in Texas ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm elections.

"Trump says he will campaign for Cruz despite the fact that they just despise each other. Is it surreal to see enemies joining forces against you?" Colbert asked.

"The people of Texas are more than a match for President Trump or for politics as usual," O'Rourke responded.

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