British Columbia

B.C. man mistaken for U.S. vice-presidential candidate

As the U.S. vice-presidential candidates gear up for their debate tonight, a Vancouver Island man is getting some of the encouragement — and derision — intended for the Democratic Party's candidate.

One letter and a border separate Vancouver Island's Tim Kane and Democrats' Tim Kaine

Saanich businessman and former Liberal candidate Tim Kane (left) is receiving Facebook messages intended for U.S. vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine (right). (Tim Kane/Facebook and Lucy Nicholson/Reuters)

As the U.S. vice-presidential candidates gear up for their debate tonight, a Vancouver Island man is getting some of the praise — and insults — intended for the Democratic Party's candidate. 

Tim Kane is a business owner who ran as candidate for the Liberals in the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands in the 2015 federal election. For the campaign he created a separate Facebook page identifying himself as a politician.

Recently, Kane began receiving messages on that page that are clearly intended for U.S. Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine.

'Hit him hard. Hate Trumpy!'

Barbara Bedsole from Opp, Alabama messaged that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump "has never work(ed) at jobs, like you, never worried where the house payment was coming from or enough money to send your kids to [college]."

"Hit him hard. Hate Trumpy!!" Bedsole wrote.

Steve Selby from Airesville, Maryland accused Kane of being "a liar just like nasty Clinton. Scum, your party and your media."

Kane says he is keeping his sense of humour about it all. He deletes many of the misdirected plaudits and vitriol and occasionally responds to others. 

"Hey Steve remember man, there is no I in Kane," Kane commented to Selby.