TV debate:Bertie Ahern comfortably defeated Enda Kenny in the television debate last Thursday night, according to the TNS/mrbi opinion poll. The debate was watched by 53 per cent of those polled.
Asked which leader performed better, 32 per cent opted for Ahern, 13 per cent said Kenny, 14 per cent said neither, 29 per cent said they did know or didn't watch the debate, and 12 per cent had no opinion.
Among Fianna Fáil supporters 52 per cent said Ahern won and just 3 per cent gave it to Kenny.
Among Fine Gael voters 32 per cent thought Kenny won while 17 per cent said the Taoiseach had come out on top.
Labour voters gave the debate to Ahern by 29 per cent to 19 per cent while the margin was bigger among PD voters with 36 per cent giving it to the Taoiseach and 13 per cent opting for Kenny.
Among Green voters opinions were more evenly divided with 24 per cent saying Ahern had won and 21 per cent feeling Kenny had come out on top.
Sinn Féin voters gave it to the Taoiseach by 21 per cent to 10 per cent while those who intend to vote for Independents and others were more equally split with 19 per cent for Ahern and 15 per cent for Kenny.
Women were more inclined than men to give the debate to Ahern, while older people were more strongly in favour of the Taoiseach than those in the younger age groups.
Kenny's highest rating was among farmers but he still trailed Ahern by two to one in this category.
The only category in which he was ahead was among the 27 per cent of the electorate who declared themselves to be committed Fine Gael voters.
