Could 'Sarah Palin's Alaska' Lead to Sarah Palin's White House?
New reality show doesn't necessarily count out a WH bid, expert says.
Nov. 15, 2010— -- You've probably seen former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin campaigning or commentating, but have you ever seen her fish, hike or hit the dirt road on an ATV?
That's what you'll get if you tune in to the new reality show "Sarah Palin's Alaska," which premiered on TLC Sunday night.
But while the new show gives viewers an inside if somewhat scripted look at the life of America's highest-profile Alaskan, it left many questioning whether starring in a reality show would hurt or help a potential 2012 presidential bid.
"She has to decide: Is she going to make her life as a celebrity and take that path, or is she going to get serious about politics and government?" ABC News political correspondent Cokie Roberts told "Good Morning America." "I think at this point she hasn't decided. ... And this program is a way to keep her options open."
In the show, Palin is shown fishing on Alaska's scenic Big River Lake with a pair of brown bears playing in the background.
But it also takes a look inside Palin and husband Todd's Wasilla, Alaska, home. In one scene, Palin has to stop a boy from heading upstairs to teenage daughter Willow's room.
"See this gate?" she says, referring to a small gate designed to keep toddlers corralled. "It's not just for [2-year-old son] Trig. It's for noooo boys go upstairs."
Palin Still Politicking
But Palin is clearly not leaving politics behind. Over the weekend, she posted a giant open letter on Facebook to the incoming house freshmen instructing them on everything from health care -- "The first step is, of course, to defund Obamacare" -- to dealing with the press.
"When the Left in the media pat you on the back, quickly reassess where you are and readjust, for the liberals' praise is a warning bell you must heed. Trust me on that."
When she's not dishing out political advice, on the show Palin is also receiving potentially as much as $2.25 million "in free media exposure" per episode, according to AdWeek. TLC has not disclosed how much Palin is paid directly for the series.
"In other words, if Palin were to make a run for the White House in 2012, TLC would have gifted the world's most famous hockey mom, with an unprecedented tide of soft-focus campaign support," Adweek reported.