Sarah Palin's Media Blitz Includes Book Release, Reality TV

Nov. 22, 2010— -- Former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin is embarking on a media blitz this week that has critics and supporters buzzing.

The former Alaska governor and Twitter fan is scheduled to be in the audience tonight to watch her daughter, Bristol, compete in the finals of ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."

The whirlwind continues with the next episode of her TLC reality TV show, "Sarah Palin's Alaska." And her latest book, "America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag," hits bookstores Tuesday.

"This is a brilliant strategy for Sarah Palin," Howard Kurtz, The Daily Beast's Washington bureau chief, told ABC News. "It keeps her in the news as a cultural phenomenon. But at the same time she doesn't really have to answer the hard questions."

Her fans and the media are eating it up, but not everyone is on board.

Former first lady Barbara Bush told CNN talk show host Larry king that Palin was "beautiful."

"She loves Alaska, and I hope she'll stay there," Bush added.

ABC's George Will, speaking on "This Week" on Sunday, said Palin's appearance on "Dancing With the Stars" was "stirring family values, but it's not good training to be president."

Palin has said she is seriously considering running for president in 2012 and that she believes she could beat Barack Obama in that contest.

Even "Saturday Night Live" has jumped into the mix, ribbing Palin for comparing herself to Shakespeare after she mistakenly coined the word "refudiate."