Polls can influence presidential elections in several ways, but the option that best captures a significant aspect of their impact is:
c. polls identify the top candidates and the media interview those candidates.
Polls often indicate which candidates are leading or have significant public support. This can influence media coverage, as journalists may focus more on the top candidates identified through polls. This increased visibility can, in turn, impact voter perception and behavior.
While polls can provide information to voters (options a and b), they do not dictate election outcomes (option d), but rather reflect current public opinion.