In the sentence below, ‘lightning rod’ means “something that…

In the sentence below, ‘lightning rod’ means “something that attracts attention or focus.” Dick Cheney was a lightning rod for criticism during Bush’s presidency.  For instance, his support of the Iraq invasion drew the anger of not only Democrats but also of many Republicans, and his secret wiretapping on unsuspecting American citizens infuriated everyone.  Which type of context clue best helps you identify the meaning of ‘lightning rod?’