Can blogs help defeat a dirty tricks campaign?

The blogosphere has demonstrated that it can be used to highlight little-known stories, collect research, disseminate information and get the attention of the "regular" media.

Could that process be effective in countering a dirty tricks campaign like the one used against John McCain in South Carolina? What would have happened if the blogs (at their current strength and influence) had shone a light on those push-polls and other dirty tricks?

If Dean is the nominee, I am certain that one of the strategies for Bush will be to start a whisper campaign about Dean or his wife having performed abortions. Could the blogosphere help expose and/or defeat a tactic like that?