So far, Jim Gilmore is Macaca free

Former Gov.Jim Gilmore is determined not to step in the same mess that befouled the last Republican who ran for the U.S. Senate.

It was August 2006 when then-Sen. George Allen singled out a young Indian man in the crowd during a speaking engagement and referred to him as "Macaca." Actually, S.R. Sidarth was the video spotter for Democrat Jim Webb. His job was to follow Allen and record his speeches.

Macaca can mean several things, but one of them is a racial slur. Sidarth was the only nonwhite person in the crowd that day. It stuck. The Macaca Moment began Allen's downfall and came to symbolize the power of YouTube in election campaigns.

Fast forward to this Monday, April 28. Gilmore is speaking to about 40 people at the Fairfax Rotary Club. After pointing out the two reporters in the audience, he turned to one of the tables.

"I also want to make people aware of Meg Burcke. Meg, raise your hand please. Meg is the spotter for Mark Warner. She follows me around the state and videotapes me and so on."

(Nervous Rotarian laughter.)

"She's done hundreds and hundreds of hours of these speeches. I would think that Mark would have other things to think about besides this (now Gilmore is smiling) but I think it's very intriguing for him to watch my speeches."

Democrat Mark Warner probably will never use the word "intriguing" to describe Gilmore's policy positions, but yes, it seems that trackers are here to stay. And Gilmore is clearly conscious of what happened to his predecessor.

His recognition of Burcke was neither demeaning nor fawning. It was measured and neutral. It is also something he does every time the two cross paths.

According to Warner spokesman Kevin Hall, Burcke actually works for the Democratic Party of Virginia.