ABSTRACT
Millions of Americans spent weeks using the media to keep track of the unique events surrounding the 2000 presidential contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore. Not only did they watch and read to find out the latest events and changes surrounding the vote count and the ensuing legal battles after Election Day, they also looked to the media for some direction on what issues to think about prior to election day. Through their day-today selection and display of the news, journalists, editors, and news directors focused our attention and influenced our perceptions of what were the most important issues in this contentious election. This ability to influence the salience of topics on the public agenda has come to be called the agenda-setting role of the news media.
