To suit Barak, Peres must declare that he wouldn't run under any circumstances in this round. Only this would pull the rug from under the lobbyists. This would be a very easy task for Peres, whose refusal speaks volumes and in a very real sense undermines Barak's prospects. So long as even a shadow of doubt remains about who the Left's candidate will ultimately be, Barak finds it increasingly difficult to narrow Ariel Sharon's lead. The long dark shadow Peres casts behind Barak sets a vicious cycle in motion.
Inauspicious polls become self-fulfilling prophecies.
So long as Peres remains a virtual candidate, Barak is hard put to improve his showing in the polls. His failure to do so will further fuel the Peres crowd's demand that he step down. These outcries cannot but additionally weaken Barak, whose situation will only grow more vulnerable as the campaign is kicked into higher gear with the launching of TV electioneering. As long as Barak must look over his shoulder and watch Peres warily, he cannot take Sharon on effectively. He must make a play for centrist voters, but his message will be contradicted if at the same time he is forced to make a pitch for the support of the far Left.