"Obama will not be a flash in the pan if he is not elected"

Yes, I get what you mean about Obama's continued influence as a senator, Kat. I simply meant that he would be a flash in the pan as a presidential candidate if he fails to be elected this time, that's all.

The only one who has ever failed to win in a presidential race and then come back later to win one was Nixon...and his loss to Kennedy in 1960 was by a hair. (in fact, he might have actually won it, but we'll never know for sure)