WASHINGTON — In an HBO appearance Friday, El Paso Rep. Beto O’Rourke didn’t call Texas Sen. Ted Cruz a “giant a--hole.”

He just agreed with late-night host Bill Maher, who described Cruz as one.

The exchange occurred during O'Rourke's roughly 10-minute interview with the host of Real Time with Bill Maher, as the Democrat hoping to defeat the powerhouse Republican in a closely watched Senate race described his decision to refuse money from political action committees.

“In this campaign, we have outraised Ted Cruz by well more than $1 million without taking money from PACs. All people, human beings,” O’Rourke said, prompting applause from the audience.

Maher, a left-leaning comedian known for being "politically incorrect," interjected: “Well, don’t forget he’s a giant a--hole.”

“That’s true,” O’Rourke replied, before adding: “Folks, though, will never have to wonder who it is I represent or who I’m voting for. It’s going to be the people of Texas, every single time.”

Had to rewind and playback to be sure. In Maher appearance, @BetoORourke, in a passing reply, appears to agree w/ @billmaher that @tedcruz is a “giant a-hole.” pic.twitter.com/uuYYirAzff — Katie Leslie (@katieleslienews) March 17, 2018

Going along with Maher's coarse remark amounted to a departure for O'Rourke, who has mostly avoided personal jabs. Cruz's campaign could not be immediately reached for comment.

On the day both won their March 6 primaries, Cruz accused O’Rourke of being a “left-wing liberal Democrat” who wants to raise taxes and seize guns. The incumbent also released a campaign jingle that suggested O’Rourke changed his birth name, Robert, to “Beto” for political gain.

"Liberal Robert wanted to fit in, so he changed his name to Beto and hid it with a grin,” the song stated.

But O’Rourke, a three-term congressman, responded to that attack by saying he’s less interested in mudslinging than in issues that matter to Texas voters, such as a living wage, education and health care. Days later, he released an image from early childhood that showed him wearing a sweater with his nickname, “Beto.”

Cruz, who earned a reputation as one of Congress’ least-liked lawmakers in the early part of his first term, is no stranger to insults, even from Republican colleagues.

O’Rourke initially ignored prompts to needle Cruz from Maher, who rattled off quotes from politicians including former Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, a Democrat who wrote in his memoir: “I probably like Ted Cruz more than most of my other colleagues like Ted Cruz, and I hate Ted Cruz." Or former House Speaker John Boehner, who described the Texan as “Lucifer in the flesh.”

Maher also recalled that Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in early 2016 that "if you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you.” Graham later apologized.

["Not Found"]

“My question is: How bad are you going to feel if you lose to that guy?” Maher asked O’Rourke, who political observers say has a tough path to victory in a GOP-dominated state.

The Democrat stuck to a script he’s honed in recent weeks, saying there’s something “happening in Texas right now” and that people are “fired up.” O'Rourke, who has built a grassroots-style campaign with a series of town halls in cities and rural communities, also accused Cruz of spending the majority of his first term campaigning for president.

First up on tonight’s #RealTime: Rep. @BetoORourke is LIVE with @BillMaher to discuss his campaign against Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. pic.twitter.com/NdrB4KYSbc — Real Time (@RealTimers) March 17, 2018

“There are places where they haven’t seen a U.S. senator, so when we show up, hold a town hall meeting, listen to the people we want to serve and represent, we’re really making a connection and folks are committing themselves to the work ahead,” said O'Rourke, who, notably, didn't project certain victory this fall. “I think we’ve got a great shot of winning in November.”