On the heels of the Madrid terrorist bombing, Zapatero came to power on a platform of reconciliation, of negotiating with those parties that were historically disassociated with the political process. 

The problem is that certain terrorists groups in Spain have always been associated with the political process, whether they were running a candidate or not. 

Spanish PM condemns killing of councillor

A politician from the ruling Socialist Party has been killed in Spain's northern Basque region, just two days before the general elections. The councilor was shot outside his house in front of his wife and daughter and was taken to hospital, where he died of his wounds. After the shooting the main parties announced a halt to campaigning. According to the polls, the two parties are neck and neck in the race for the election.