Does presidential popularity depend more on economic context than media's coverage of economy ? Starting from a survey of previous studies, we propose a model of economy's influence on popularity based on economic concerns and perceptions, media's coverage and real economic changes. We use it to estimate the popularity of Nicolas Sarkozy, and we show that economic information indirectly impacts popularity through subjective economic variables. Moreover, both partisan affiliation and 2008 economic crisis modify the factors of support. In conclusion, economic perceptions and concerns are more influenced by media's coverage than by economic changes. And presidential popularity fluctuations depend on this “impersonal influence”.