When Barack Obama set out to court John McCain post-election, it seemed to me that the goodwill between the two could be fleeting -- not much lasting beyond a photo op, not anything like, say, the post-election relationship between FDR and Wendell Willkie. But apparently between the reaching out and the nomination of Bob Gates, whom McCain would have likely nominated as well, Obama has earned somewhat of an ally in McCain. Here's Mike Allen:

In a surprising rebuke to the warriors who fought for him through tough times, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Sunday sided with President-elect Barack Obama and scolded the Republican National Committee for fanning the Illinois corruption scandal.

On ABC's "This Week," host George Stephanopoulos asked: "The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Mike Duncan, has been highly critical of the way President- elect Obama has dealt with this.

"He's had a statement every single day, saying that the Obama team should reveal all contacts they've had with Governor [Rod] Blagojevich. He says that Obama's promise of transparency to the American people is now being tested. Do you agree with that?"

McCain replied: "I think that the Obama campaign should and will give all information necessary. You know, in all due respect to the Republican National Committee and anybody -- right now, I think we should try to be working constructively together, not only on an issue such as this, but on the economy stimulus package, reforms that are necessary. And so, I don't know all the details of the relationship between President-elect Obama's campaign or his people and the governor of Illinois, but I have some confidence that all the information will come out. It always does, it seems to me."

It's still not clear to me that this actually heralds a coming period of partnership between Obama and McCain, one in which the latter helps forward the former's agenda on Capitol Hill. Yet it is a potentially positive sign, and certainly an interesting and even surprising one, to see McCain come so quickly and conspicuously to Obama's aid.