Food for thought on a slow news night: Assuming Barack Obama loses next year, would he run again in 2016?

It’s highly unusual but he wouldn’t be the first. Grover Cleveland was both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States, serving from 1885 to 1889 and then 1893 to 1897. He lost his 1888 election, returning to the private sector (specifically, the field of law) for four years before returning in 1897.

Now, if Barack Obama loses next year it’ll be due to the disastrous economy and his failed leadership. Voters won’t soon reconsider their decision. Even if the next president is a disaster, they’d just move on to another Democratic candidate. So I thoroughly doubt he’ll succeed in mounting a comeback.

But that wouldn’t stop him from trying. The man has an ego the size of Montana and, as evidenced with his Stimulus 2.0 and ObamaCare clusterfarks, has a problem being told “no”. It’s possible a loss would lead him to believe voters will regret their “mistake” and take him back in four years. The Democratic primary field would be wide open, so an opportunity would exist to make a grab for the nomination.

Who knows. I’d say there’s only a 15% chance of it happening, but I just don’t see Barack Obama going quietly and spending the rest of his life writing books, running charities, and giving paid speeches. His ego is too big for such a setback. He’s had the taste of real power and he’ll want it again. Plus, nothing he’d do at this point should surprise anyone.