Answer: The statement that best describes what happened in the passage is B. The public was influenced by how the news media covered a candidate, a voters lost confidence in his leadership abilities.
Explanation: The statement provided shows a relationship between news media coverage and the people's vote. After media portrayed Muskie, a candidate for presidential nomination, as a highly emotional man by reporting that he was crying during a press conference without making sure that what the reporters saw were actual tears and not melting snow, people started to see Muskie as a weak man and; therefore, as someone who was not ready to become a leader. In that way, the passage is showing how news media coverage has the power of influencing people's opinion or view on a candidate.