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I think there were sound reasons for the widespread conservative criticism of Mike Huckabee, but I wonder if the extent of the campaign against him may have backfired. First, it may have played into the hands of the anti-establishment populism and evangelical identity politics Michael Brendan Dougherty documents. Second, it made it very difficult for the anti-Huckabee conservatives to pivot and oppose John McCain in South Carolina.

The scenario I outlined a while back of Huckabee helping Rudy Giuliani may no longer be realistic. But Huckabee -- and his critics -- may have given McCain a boost.

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John McCain