Why you see so many Beto O’Rourke yard signs, and so few for Ted Cruz

PHOTOS: Most liberal, conservative areas in Texas Yard signs for U.S. senatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke appear to outnumber his opponent because Ted Cruz's campaign manager, Jeff Roe, prefers more effective means of advertising, Roe told the Texas Tribune. >>>See where the most partisan areas of Texas are less Yard signs for U.S. senatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke appear to outnumber his opponent because Ted Cruz's campaign manager, Jeff Roe, prefers more effective means of advertising, Roe told the Texas Tribune. PHOTOS: Most liberal, conservative areas in Texas Yard signs for U.S. senatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke appear to outnumber his opponent because Ted Cruz's campaign manager, Jeff Roe, prefers more effective Yard signs for U.S. senatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke appear to outnumber his opponent because Ted Cruz's campaign manager, Jeff Roe, prefers more effective ... more Photo: James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram Photo: James Durbin/Reporter-Telegram Image 1 of / 42 Caption Close Why you see so many Beto O’Rourke yard signs, and so few for Ted Cruz 1 / 42 Back to Gallery

The reason for the flood of "Beto" yard signs supporting U.S. senatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke may go beyond the El Paso Democrat's popularity among his base.

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O'Rourke's signs litter yards across the state, while signs for his opponent Senator Ted Cruz appear much harder to come by.

Cruz's campaign manager, Jeff Roe, told the Texas Tribune this week that he has an overall aversion to campaign yard signs because they're ineffective. He said he prefers to spend money on other advertisements, such as direct mail, door knocking, phone banks and television ads.

"It would be an easier campaign to win if we just used yard signs, and whoever wins is who puts up the most yard signs," Jeff Roe told The Tribune.

Cruz addressed the sign disparity during a campaign event in Georgetown. In response to a question about the signs from a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, Cruz said O'Rourke's campaign has invested a "ton of money" into "having signs everywhere," the Tribune reported.

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O'Rourke told the paper that his signs have especially helped his campaign's reach in more traditionally conservative neighborhoods. And despite Roe's aversion to signs, Cruz's campaign reportedly has distributed 10,000 so far with another 25,000 on the way.

Both candidates sell yard signs online for $10 each.

Julian Gill is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | julian.gill@chron.com