Public perception is often more powerful than reality.
As an example, when a natural disaster strikes, whether it be flooding or an earthquake, you can safely bet your house that a governor or other high ranking politician will hop in a helicopter to survey the damage. The governor is doing everything he can to have the geographic area declared a disaster area so that federal relief funds will become available. If the governor is interested in seeking federal funds, he probably could get more done by working the telephones back in his office than flying over a scene he has already viewed on countless news programs. In the above hypothetical, the governor may truly care about those that have suffered at the hands of the disaster but politics dictate that he travel to the site. Doing the realistic thing in the office might be more productive, but public perception will get him re-elected.