  We report the simultaneous measurement of the structural and electronic
components of the metal-insulator transition of VO$_2$ using electron and
photoelectron spectroscopies and microscopies. We show that these evolve over
different temperature scales, and are separated by an unusual monoclinic-like
metallic phase. Our results provide conclusive evidence that the new
monoclinic-like metallic phase, recently identified in high-pressure and
nonequilibrium measurements, is accessible in the thermodynamic transition at
ambient pressure, and we discuss the implications of these observations on the
nature of the MIT in VO$_2$.
