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Whether it is who won the TV debates, what they wore or how they ate a hot dog - the attention on the men and women at the helm of their parties is intense.

But is such focus justified? What difference will the leaders make to the outcome of the vote on May 8th?

5 live spoke to two men who found themselves at the eye of the storm, when they led their respective parties.

Lord Neil Kinnock (pictured, right) fought and lost two elections as leader of the Labour party in 1987 and 1992 and Lord Michael Howard (pictured, left) led the Conservatives through their unsuccessful 2005 general election campaign.

Both had a different take on the importance of leaders to a party's popularity.

This clip is originally from 5 live Daily as part of the station's General Election coverage.