Twitter user has unwelcome double

'It's a circus' is how Tauranga web designer Scott Brown describes the online confusion with a US politician. Photo / Alan Gibson

The difference between an American politician and a New Zealand web designer should be clear - but online the two have crossed wires with amusing results.

Tauranga man Scott Brown, 30, found he had a high-profile namesake after receiving a deluge of confusing political messages on the social networking site Twitter.

The other Scott Brown is a Republican Party member from Wrentham, Massachusetts, who is running for the United States Senate. Hundreds of Republicans have mistaken the Tauranga man's page for the American's - the New Zealander's Twitter address is scottbrown and his namesake's is ScottBrownMA.

"A few months ago the occasional tweet [message] popped up, but as his run for office comes closer, I have been getting 30 or 40 a day," the web designer told the Herald.

"I can tell when a debate has finished because a whole bunch start pouring in. It's all a bit hard case."

The American apologised this week online - "[M]y apologies for any unwanted tweets, my election is over on Jan 19 ;)"

The New Zealand Scott Brown replied, "[T]hey are coming in thick and fast! I have been letting people know what your Twitter account is."

Republican voters might have struggled to find inspiration from the Tauranga man - the common themes of his messages are barbecues and beach-side relaxation. "Tonight, we grill," said one tweet. "Having a couple of ciders after an afternoon planting veges," said another.

He describes himself as a "Designer, Musician, Husband, Father, Thinker, Writer, Underground Instigator".

He has no interest in American politics, and laughed off the suggestion he was aiding a politician's campaign.

"It's all a bit of a circus."

He is hoping the misplaced notes will fall off after the election, but also fears an increase if his namesake wins.

As an internet-savvy designer, he secured his account name in Twitter's early days. He has joked about trying to sell the account, or pretending to be a senatorial hopeful, but has settled for politely redirecting his namesake's followers.