Tea Party Fueling Bristol Palin's "DWTS" Run?

Bristol Palin, left, and partner Mark Ballas perform on "Dancing with the Stars," Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, in Los Angeles.

/ AP Photo/ABC

NEW YORK (CBS) After Tuesday night's "Dancing with the Stars" elimination, many were surprised that Rick Fox was sent home - and equally as shocked that Bristol Palin is still in the competition.

Some may be wondering if her mother's devoted Tea Party following is what's keeping the young competitor afloat.

PICTURES: "DWTS" Season 11
PICTURES: Bristol Palin

Palin and partner Mark Ballas have consistently ranked near the bottom of the leaderboard throughout the competition, but viewers' votes have helped the pair outlast high-scorers like Fox and Audrina Patridge, who was eliminated last week to the surprise of both judges and viewers.

Besides Palin, the other remaining contestants are Kyle Massey, Brandy, Jennifer Grey and Kurt Warner.

Do you think the Tea Party is behind Palin's "DWTS" success? And will the momentum propel her into the finals? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts in the comments.

12 Photos

"Dancing with the Stars" Season 11

[ELBK]

I was wrong about thinking Bristol would win, and I'm glad of it. YAY, JENNIFER! Justice has prevailed! I still think the tea party people were responsible for many of Bristol's votes, as well as people who felt sorry for her, and in the last analysis, the studio. The viewers votes are never released to the public, and they yanked us along with Bristol until we all found ourselves sitting before our TV sets for the final.

[woodman15]

I'm glad Jennnifer Gray won, although it should have possibly Brandi and then or Jennifer. This is my last DWTS season. No offence to the dancers, but none were realy that great to start with, with the possibillity of 1 or 2. I'm tired of seeing stars that arn't stars ie, Kyle and Bristol. This is a rigged show and has completely lost my interested. So long DWTS.

[woodman15]

Correction, 2012.

[woodman15]

Bristol Palin should have been eliminated weeks ago. If I had two broken legs and they were both in casts I could have danced better then her ( this is nothing personal agains't Bristol). For all of those who think that the Tea Party is just a fade, YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ENYTHING YET, WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED. So long Obama in 2010, if you last that long and that's a BIG if.

[GingerAlly]

OH well, as my husband would say, Bristol has as much sex appeal as a 2"x4"....! At 20, she should be sexy, lively, spunky, instead she looks bored to death when dancing....Even though Jennifer is 50 and injured she delivers in all aspects...foot and leg work, sexiness, presentation...Bristol should go home...I know she worked hard but she just haven't got IT...she's too much of a goody two shoes...boring!

[ELBK]

Isn't it funny how two people can observe the same thing and have two completely different opinions, like you and me. I think Bristol looks scared to death underneath the brave facade. I do agree with you, however, that Jennifer is great and too bad Bristol's mother's fans aren't going to allow her to win.

[mariapalestina]

She should have gone home weeks ago. It's bad enough she can't dance, but now she's getting cocky. So she's worked hard; doesn't she think everybody has worked hard? In past seasons no celebrity as bad as she is has survived this far. It's nice to support the underdog for a while, but this is ridiculous. There's no way she would still be here without her mother encouraging people to skew the vote, even telling them how to do it. I feel sad for all the better dancers who have been sent home just because of her. As for being a celebrity, I don't know how being a single teenage mom makes her special. And now the judges are giving her better scores than she deserves, probably because they are embarrassed and trying to justify her being kept alive by the teabaggers.

[Grantu8]

I am NOT even thinking about politics when watching Bristol Palin dance! It's ridicules how this young woman is being treated in such a thugish way by a few people!! Please..just leave this young lady alone! She is NOT her mother! In my opinion, she is trying to find her own way!
Oh, & I'm NOT a member of the "Tea Party"...just a member of society that wants nothing but Good for Bristol!! Oh, and NO I'm not...nor have I voted for Sarah..nor will I vote for her!!

[magrino]

First of all, I can only understand why J. Gray is left and was shocked that Brandy was voted off. After the shock i thought about the viewing audience and the same thing happens on Amer idol...people often vote for who they like and forget about talent. I agree with alot of the Tea party issues but it would have no impact on my voting, if I voted. I have questioned many >40 and <40 and <40 and age definately enters into voting..Most answers have been and many over 40 and definately over 50 do not get into the voting...no time or inclination or working and watching a taped show...So ask around, be informed before assuming that the Tea Party group have anything to do with DWTS. I can also say that I don't know anyone who would want to see S. Palin in the Whitehouse, maybe in the Senate but not presidental material. So speak from some knowledge base survey your peers, parents, coworkers..It may suprise you.

[ELBK]

"So ask around, be informed before assuming that the Tea Party group have anything to do with DWTS. " Magrino, Bristol's mother tweeted the number to vote for Bristol, also put it on her C4P site, and the tea party blogs do the same and brag about helping her ---- I've seen them. I liked Bristol and even voted for her at the beginning because I thought she could use a boost, but now more talented dancers are losing to her because she is being bolstered by her mother's friends. Not fair - the other dancers work hard too. And I've noticed a change in her attitude - Mom's influence.

[DemeterTresa]

Sugaries, sad to see that you think the Palins are more than just the "joke of the moment." They're sensational, "reality" fodder for the masses. Nothing more.

[blondiefrombeyondie]

Well if this is how Sarah Pailin (and the Tea Party movement) wins a national voting competition, then I suppose congrats may be in order next week. However this incident has grossly affected my desire to rush home to watch dancing with the stars for the rest of this season and for future seasons. I think they may have shot themself in the foot over this seasons choice of Bristol Pailin, bcoz now we all know just how unfair things are when it comes to who genuinely deserves to win for dancing and who actually wins.