A content analysis was conducted of 203 editorials from the "Daily Oklahoman" from the first six months of the 1980 presidential campaign. The analysis was based on two assumptions: (1) the tone of the 1980 presidential campaign essentially was set after only six months of official campaigning, and (2) the "Daily Oklahoman" editorial page, which often relies on nationally syndicated conservative columnists, reflected the conservative trend that ultimately shaped the election. The analysis indicated that the total number of editorials concerning the three Democratic candidates (93) clearly surpassed the attention granted the eight Republication candidates (79). President Carter received almost half the Democratic editorials, and approximately one third of those were unfavorable. Edward Kennedy received the remaining Democratic editorials and nearly half of those were critical of him. No editorials examined the candidacy of Jerry Brown. Of the Republican editorials, John Anderson's 10 were mostly unfavorable, and George Bush's, for the most part, dealt with factual information, most often in a favorable tone. John Connally, Philip Crane, and Robert Dole received little or no editorial coverage. Ronald Reagan received a considerable amount of editorial analysis throughout the campaign, a total of 35 editorials, almost all favorable. The study concluded that editorial policy was clearly in favor of conservative candidates, often at the expense of moderates and liberals. (A response to the study by a communications faculty member examining problems in the assumptions and in the methodology is included). (HTH)