Ted Cruz — real name Rafael — mocks Dem opponent's nickname in ad

Sen. Ted Cruz — real name Rafael Edward Cruz — is targeting his longshot Democratic challenger Rep. Beto O’Rourke for going by Beto rather than his given name, Robert.

Cruz said Wednesday his campaign was “just having a sense of humor” with a radio ad mocking O’Rourke as a liberal who wants to take Texans’ guns — and for using the nickname Beto.

“In terms of the jingle, some of it is just having a sense of humor," Cruz told CNN’s “New Day.” “We had some fun with it.”

Cruz tried to laugh off the name-calling, and awkwardly shrugged off the unintentional irony.

“You’re absolutely right. My name is Rafael Edward Cruz,” he told Chris Cuomo. “I am the son of my father, Rafael Cruz, an immigrant from Cuba who came to Texas with nothing.”

The radio spot features a country tune centered around the hook: “If you’re going to run in Texas, you can’t be a liberal, man.”

The song includes lines about how O’Rourke “wants to take our guns” and refers to him as “liberal Robert.”

It also says he “changed his name to Beto.”

O’Rourke said he’s gone by “Beto” since he was born and has released photos of himself wearing a sweater with the name stitched across the front as a toddler.

“My parents have called me Beto from day one, and it’s just — it’s kind of a nickname for Robert in El Paso. It just stuck,” he told CNN.

The pair will face off in November for Cruz’s seat after O’Rourke bested two Democratic opponents in a primary.

The ad appeared hours before O’Rourke’s win was announced late Tuesday.

O’Rourke has so far out-raised Cruz, but a win remains unlikely.

Texas has not elected a Democrat statewide since 1994.

Cruz is very familiar with nicknames.

During the 2016 GOP primary President Trump labeled Cruz “lyin’ Ted,” a name that haunted the conservative Texan right up until the day he dropped his presidential bid.