It's that time of the year again...

Once again, Spain - like the USA - is gripped by election fever.

Just as the Americans are being whipped up into a frenzy by the likes of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Oven Chip Magnate John McCain (and remember, their elections aren't happening till November or something) , so here in Madrid the electorate are starting to froth at the mouth with anticipation of a close-run battle between incumbent Socialist leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (known as "Thetta-pé" to friends and enemies alike) and conservative PP main man Mariano Rajoy (known as... er... "Rajoy" to friends and enemies alike).

Or are they?

Fully aware of the fact that an unbiased report on a political issue from a Spanish newspaper is probably less likely than Lewis Hamilton being invited to Fernando Alonso's birthday party, we present a selection of English-language links on the subject.

• BBC News on the "heated" first debate
• BBC News on the "angry" second debate
• The Financial Times on the second "showdown"
• Typically Spanish: No More Mariano Mr. Nice Guy
  
• The Financial Times on "Spain's Choice"
• Newsweek on "Zapatero: Spain's Dud"
• The Washington Post on a "testy" debate
• Bloomberg on Zapatero's "lead over Rajoy"
• The Times on how Zapatero is struggling "to stay in office"
• Canada's Globe & Mail on "Spain's Big Question"
  
• BBC News Euroblog on Rajoy's "imaginary friend"
• Bloomberg on how Rajoy's attacks on Zapatero may backfire
  
• The San Diego Tribune on how Rajoy is trying to compensate for a blunder
• The Guardian on how "bad economic news" is "heating up" the campaign

UPDATE:

• The New York Times on the murder of Isias Carrasco
• BBC News Euroblog: Were politicians right to stop campaigning?
• The Observer: Vote to foil ETA, victim's family pleads

FURTHER UPDATE:

• The Guardian on Spain's "unconvincing choice"
• The Times on how Spain is voting in the shadow of terrorism
• 5Spaniards.com: A brief analysis at poll-closing time
• BBC News: Socialists win Spanish elections
  
• Bloomberg: Zapatero reelected, gains seats
• ITN News (UK): Socialists win, close to absolute majority
• The Washington Post: Socialists win, but short of absolute majority