Bristol Palin holds up a ‘Vote for Bristol’ sign . (Anthony Monterotti, PacificCoast)
What’s the secret to Bristol Palin’s shocking success on “Dancing With the Stars?”
It’s not a Right-Wing conspiracy, the show’s top boss insists.
“I think the Tea Party have proven their point — they did really well in the elections,” Executive Producer Conrad Green tells The Post.
“I don’t really see any particular gain for them in skewing a ballroom dance competition.”
But others are not so sure.
One way or the other, the story of how America’s most-famous teen mom — who, with her partner Mark Ballas, has been near the bottom of the leader board all season — has stayed alive is the hottest talking topic on TV’s No. 1 show.
“I am shocked that we’re still around,” Palin told reporters last week after NBA star Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke got booted from the ballroom.
Now, with just five couples remaining, the online oddsmakers are giving “Bristol the Pistol” 10 to 1 odds — compared to 35 to 1 last September — to win it all.
Palin’s real-life Cinderella run has left viewers scratching their heads.
As one Web site put it last week right before the mid-term elections: “Bristol is the only Palin you could vote for this week.”
Broadway star Marissa Jaret Winokur — a “Dancing” contestant from two seasons ago — is convinced that the popularity of Palin’s famous mom is somehow influencing the vote.
“I think Bristol is going to keep advancing because the Republicans are going to keep voting for her,” Winokur tells The Post.
“But she is never going to win. Bristol is sweet and cute, but everybody else are better dancers.”
“At this point, people don’t care what her dances are,” says Winokur, now a co-host of CBS’s afternoon show, “The Talk.”
“She could dance in a monkey suit, and they will still vote for her. She is definitely getting through this week.”
The Palin sensation is somewhat reminiscent of “American Idol” singer Sanjaya Malakar — who stayed in the competition way past his sell-by date because fans liked him and voted for him just because he was such an improbable contender.
Palin has relied heavily on partner Ballas — a first-place finisher in Season 6 (with Kristi Yamaguchi) and 8 (with Shawn Johnson).
“He is definitely one of the best choreographers there,” Winokur says. “I feel like people are voting for them because they want to see Mark dance, too.
“You know he is working with her and being very patient and trying to bring out her best.”