The updated syllabus for Campaigning 101 should make learning how to handle “trackers” a required part of the curriculum.

And Kenny Hulshof might just be able to teach that part of the course.

In political parlance, a tracker is a member of the opposition that follows around a candidate with a video camera, poised to post their guffaws, contradictions, mix-ups, malapropisms and other embarrassing moments on YouTube the instant they happen.

Look no further than former U.S. Senate candidate George Allen’s “Macaca” moment for proof that the strategy works.

Hoping to put Missouri Republicans in a similar bind, the State Democratic Party has enlisted a tracker to shadow Hulshof and his primary opponent, Sarah Steelman, on the campaign trail. (The state GOP probably has its own tracker - or will once they chose a candidate for governor.)

On Monday, the Democratic tracker, a young operative named Vinay Vaz, arrived early at Hulshof’s downtown press conference, videotaping Hulshof’s chit-chat with reporters.

“That’s Vinay,” Hulshof said by way of explanation. “He’s with the Democratic Party.”

Hulshof’s people were surprisingly friendly to someone who gets paid to record their every movement on video camera. At one point, Hulshof’s press aide appeared to be casually chatting with Vaz about something.

Hulshof even made a reference to Vaz during the news conference after making a minor slip of the tongue - senior senator instead of senior citizen.

“This will go on your blooper real,” Hulshof said.

Despite the banter, Vaz demonstrated he is all business. A few hours after the press conference, Democrat Jay Nixon’s campaign for governor sent out a release with verbatim comments taken from Hulshof’s press conference.

No video, though — at least not yet.