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Poll: Cameron Wins Leaders' TV Clash

The Prime Minister had the edge on Ed Miliband in the leaders' showdown, according to the first opinion poll results.

An ICM opinion poll for The Guardian newspaper found that 54% of those questioned thought David Cameron won the Sky News / Channel 4 Battle for Number 10.

But the opposition leader was not far behind, with 46% of those asked thinking he came out on top.

Both leaders faced questions from the audience in the live programme, moderated by Sky's Kay Burley.

And they were also grilled by Jeremy Paxman in separate 18-minute interviews.

The showdown marked the first major TV clash of the General Election campaign.

The ICM poll asked a sample of over 1,100 viewers to put aside their party preferences and focus only on what was said in the programme.

Some 46% of viewers felt Mr Cameron had the best arguments, while 48% considered him the more convincing of the two.

That compared to 44% and 43% for Mr Miliband respectively.

The PM also won in the personality category, with 46% judging him to have the more appealing personality and 42% choosing Mr Miliband.

But it was not all bad news for the opposition leader.

Sky News' Political Editor Faisal Islam said Mr Miliband may have surprised some people with a different approach to the showdown, in some instances taking on the notoriously tough interviewer Jeremy Paxman.

He said the poll's finding that 56% of people said they would consider changing their minds and plumping for Labour was proof the opposition leader will not be disappointed.

Just 30% said the same of the Conservatives.

Furthermore, the head of Political and Social Research at YouGov, Joe Twyman, speaking from the Sky News studio, said that in terms of social media reaction, Mr Miliband has got the "greatest benefit".

"He was the underdog, he was the one who exceeded expectations.

"So if you look at it in terms of costs and benefits ... I think Ed Miliband will be the one who goes home happiest tonight," he said.

:: Highlights of the Battle For Number 10 can be seen on Sky News today at 9.30am and 9.30pm and all digital platforms.