MADISON, Wis. -- With less than two weeks to go, the 2008 presidential campaign is heating up -- not only for the candidates, but also for area residents displaying partisan yard signs.

Reports of vandalized or stolen yard signs continue to flood both McCain and Obama local campaign offices, officials said.

In early October, a Madison East Side neighborhood was plagued with political yard signs being vandalized. Now, other areas of Madison are dealing with the same problem, WISC-TV reported.

Dave Baker's support for John McCain is evident by one quick glance at his front yard.

"Go down the street and you'll see a house with a whole bunch of McCain signs," said Baker. "That's mine."

Baker is one of many voters dealing with vandals either damaging or stealing their symbols of support.

"Anytime someone comes on your property, you feel violated," said Baker. "It's similar if someone were to break into your house."

Workers at John McCain's campaign headquarters in Fitchburg said that 500 McCain signs have been stolen from yards in the Madison area, with about half of that total coming in the past two weeks. Seven of those were stolen from the home of Dave Baker.

In contrast, representatives from Barack Obama's Madison campaign headquarters report that only about 150 of their signs have been stolen.

Both camps said that everyone's right to support the candidate of his or her own choosing should not be silenced.

"All I say is, 'Do not be intimidated,'" said Bill Richardson, media coordinator for the Republican Party of Dane County. "Freedom of speech means that, it's the kind of speech that you disagree with. It means nothing if it only is speak what you believe."

"There might be some people that are angry and they're just going to yank out an Obama yard sign," said Barb Christopher, office manager for Obama's Madison campaign headquarters. "But I think for the most part people are respectful in the community of others. Yard signs are a very emotional issue for people and it's really a way for them to show the world how they feel."

Those thinking of stealing a yard sign should note that it doesn't always have the desired effect. "Every time they take one down," said Dave Baker, "I always put an extra one up."

Anyone who has had a yard sign stolen or vandalized can call the closest campaign headquarters for a replacement. McCain replacements are free, while Obama's cost $5.