You've given the short version of Shimon Peres's tale of serial losses, perhaps out of respect or perhaps because there wasn't enough space. You don't have to go too far back, just to 2005, to recall that Peres led in every Labor primary poll before being edged out by Amir Peretz. In 1996, Peres somehow squandered all that public goodwill that built up toward the peace camp after Rabin's assassination. By bombing the UN post Qana and killing 100 civilians who had gathered there, Peres allienated many Israeli Arabs who cast blank ballots for PM, allowing Bibi to win by a nose. It's telling that Peres considers his greatest political victory... another loss. In 1981, when he led the Labor Alignment it grew to 47 Knesset seats from 32 seats. Of course, Likud that year got 48 seats. Still, I sure admire the guy. Despite his many disappointments (among which, privately, he probably includes Oslo), he's an indefatigable optimist and that's just what Israel needs in its President.