Media could alter your perspective on a candidate/candidates. It could give information about why you shouldn’t vote for this person, based on their past, present, personal background, etc. Media can also persuade you to vote, or to not vote for someone based on what they believe in, how they handle things, how they live etc.
An opinion leader means a
person or association who has the power to affect and change the public opinion
in a specific field; these people can be from any walk of like, politics, presenters,
singers, movie stars etc.