Is Palin reality show pioneering a new era of campaigning?

Since Palin's TLC show is a hit bringing in 5 million viewers some critics are saying its a new way of campaigning. I think that could be true because the show focuses on family values which is a hardcore belief that Palin believes in. Since this is a new era of politics in which parties dont know who will be running for president a reality show could be a new way of sharing candidates views while avoiding filters. I think its a creative way for using media to get your message across since reality show are here to stay. But I still believe that just because people may have an interest in politicians lifestyles doesn't mean they would take them serious enough to vote for them.

Do you think more politicians will be following Palin's footsteps?

Palin pioneers reality campaigning

By Julian E. Zelizer, Special to CNN

November 22, 2010 8:19 a.m. EST

"Sarah Palin's Alaska," a new reality show on TLC, is attracting a large audience.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Sarah Palin's reality show may represent new way of running for president, says Julian Zelizer
• He says for a long time, party bosses chose the presidential candidates
• Zelizer says reforms gave that power to primaries under scrutiny of the news media
• Palin, other candidates can bypass media and make their case directly to voters, he says

Editor's note: Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. He is the author of "Jimmy Carter" published by Times Books and editor of a book assessing former President George W. Bush's administration published by Princeton University Press.

Princeton, New Jersey (CNN) -- Sarah Palin's new reality show looks like it might become a hit.

During its first week, "Sarah Palin's Alaska" attracted almost five million viewers, the best that a premiere has done on the TLC network.

The same week that the show debuted, there were reports that Palin was talking with insiders about a presidential run. She told ABC News that she believed she could defeat President Obama in 2012.

The launch of the show has felt very much like the start of a presidential campaign.

If this turns out to be true, Palin's reality show could be a harbinger of campaigns to come. We might be witnessing the start of a new era in presidential campaigning, where candidates take their message directly to the voters while avoiding almost any filters in the process.