US Election: Why a top US Democrat is retweeting a National Party pollster

David Farrar and Ilhan Omar.
David Farrar and Ilhan Omar. Photo credit: Getty/The AM Show

A top US Democrat has taken time out of her day to call a National Party pollster "insane" after he suggested Republicans should be appointed to cabinet positions.

David Farrar, a well-known New Zealand political commentator, posted a tweet on Monday posing his suggestions for Presidential-elect Joe Biden's new cabinet.

Some of his recommendations were former presidential candidate Mitt Romney for secretary of state, attorney Geoffrey Berman as attorney-general, retired US army general David Petraeus for director of national intelligence and retired politician Paul Ryan in charge of trade - all staunch Republicans. 

The "dream cabinet" suggestion received a lot of attention - including that of Democrat Representative Ilhan Omar.

Omar retweeted the post, adding her own comment to it.

"Suggesting Democrats appoint Republicans to the most important Cabinet positions, is the same as winning a championship and being asked to give it to the losing team.

"It's just insane - knock it off."

Omar made global headlines as the first Somali American and the first woman of colour to represent Minnesota in Congress. She is also part of a group of Congresswomen dubbed the 'Squad' - four women of colour under 50 who hold seats in the House of Representatives.

Other people have mentioned the tweet, including another famous Squad member - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Left-wing commenters have criticised Farrar's choices, comparing them to nightmarish paintings and calling him "out of his mind".

Farrar wrote about his sudden leap to online infamy in a post on his blog Kiwiblog, saying the left's response has given him new insight into why people don't support them.

"One of the things that has puzzled me is how 70 million Americans could vote for Donald Trump," he wrote.

"Having now had 10,000 angry Democrats hurl abuse at me, I now understand why so many people voted for Trump despite his manifest flaws."

He says the situation is "amusing". 

"This was clearly a tweet of my personal preferences. It wasn't me saying who I think Biden would appoint, or who I think is in the running. It was purely my personal preferences. But 10,000+ people felt the need to say they disagree in various ways."