Sign Of The Times; NAM Courts Democrats

A discordant sight at the Democratic National Convention: Jay Timmons, walking the halls. Mr. Timmons is famous in politics for being the long-time chief of staff to Sen. George Allen of Virginia. (No, Mr. Timmons was not on staff for Sen. Allen's dalliance with "Macaca.") Timmons is now the executive vice president of the National Association for Manufacturers.

When I ran into him, he was wearing an "honored guest" hall credential. He was here in Denver, he said, to promote the virtues of tonight's keynote speaker, the former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner.  Timmons is a big fan of Warner's. Might Republicans, I asked, have been inclined to vote for a Warmer-Obama ticket?  "Absolutely," he said.

NAM has traditionally felt a gravitational pull toward the Republican political orbit, but it has reached out to Democrats this cycle -- a clear sign of the times. (The Chamber of Commerce remains a mostly Republican organization.)

Barack Obama "is willing to listen," Timmons said. "And we have a great relationship with Biden's office."