MORNING ROUNDUP: Bristol Palin Downplays Mom's Influence on Keeping Her on 'Dancing With the Stars'

5:45 AM PST 11/16/2010 by Georg Szalai, Lindsay Powers

PLUS: Kanye West is still on for a Thanksgiving performance on NBC, Arianna Huffington faces a lawsuit over her site.

- Bristol Palin downplays that she's in the top four on Dancing With the Stars because of her mom's Tea Party supporters -- despite The Hollywood Reporter's exclusive poll that Republicans overwhelmingly watch the ABC show. "Think of all the people out there who hate my mom," she said Monday. "Why don't we talk about that? It can work both ways with me being Sarah Palin's daughter." Bristol -- who received her highest scores yet as Sarah and Todd Palin watched from the audience -- added: "I work my butt off here. I rehearse every day. I am totally out of my element here. I think I deserve to be here." Four finalists remain. Related: Sarah Palin’s Alaska premiered to record ratings Sunday.