Why Are Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston Getting Back Together? 3 Leading Theories

(July 14) -- Romantic relationships can be mysterious things.

But today's announcement on the cover of Us Weekly that Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston have buried their respective hatchets and have decided to get married comes as something of a surprise.

Palin and Johnston's very public announcement of their engagement comes after months of very public feuding between the two families in which Johnston accused Sarah Palin of fabricating her "hockey mom" persona, and the former Alaska governor, in an interview on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," described Johnston as aspiring to a porn career for posing in Playgirl, asserting that he would "say and do anything for even more attention."

So why have Bristol and Levi decided to get back together? Here are a few theories.

1. Love Is All You Need

The simplest explanation for the on-again engagement is that, in the end, love conquers all. To hear Johnston and Palin tell it to Us Weekly, their love never died, despite the acrimony between family members. In a text message Palin says Johnston sent her after they'd gone on a walk with their son, Tripp, that emotion resurfaced once again.

"When he left that night, we didn't hug or kiss, but I was thinking how different it was. He texted me: 'I miss you. I love you. I want to be with you again' ... I was in shock," Palin told Us Weekly.

2. To Make a New Reality Show

Given their numerous television appearances and familial squabbling, you may be forgiven if you thought that Palin and Johnston were already engaged in a reality TV show, but Gawker ran with a scoop today that claims the engagement is part of a one-two punch that will result in a new show featuring the newlyweds. The article quoted a source who goes by the screen name "Levinews," who stated:

Within the next four to six weeks Palin's PR people will be releasing news that Bristol and Levi have signed on to "star" in a new reality show. All about young parenting. And yes, they will also work up to a wedding.

While Surge Desk is suspicious, who could have predicted the seemingly endless media twists and turns initiated by this couple so far?

3. To Help Sarah Palin With Her Political Aspirations

Newsweek gave voice to a rather cynical theory about Palin and Johnston's romantic reunion: It helps with Sarah Palin's political career.

Before his apology, Johnston was (obviously) a loose cannon who made the Palins look bad with his tell-all inside look at the Palin house -- even though some of his claims were apparently false (though Johnston hasn't said which ones). And the fact that Palin had an unwed teenage daughter with a baby didn't help her -- indeed, there were allegations that the original Johnston-Palin engagement was a shotgun affair to save face -- but now she can again play up the "happy family" image that's served her well.

Of course, the only two people in the world who really know what's behind it all are the ones who have, once again, told the world that they are now happily engaged.

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