Nyorera kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Muna 2003, Cleland akatanga kushanda mushandirapamwe wemutungamiri wenyika wa2004 weMassachusetts senator John Kerry, zvakare murwi weVietnam; Kerry akaenderera mberi kuhwina kusarudzwa kweDemocratic. Cleland aiwanzovapo pazviitiko zvomushandirapamwe naKerry uye aionekwa nevakawanda somumwe wevamiririri vake vanokosha zvikuru, muchidimbu sechiratidzo chezvibayiro zvakaitwa nemasoja nokuda kwehondo. Akaenda kupurazi raBush muTexas kunopa chichemo chechiziviso chechikepe chinokurumidza, asi chiitiko chacho chakakundikana kuva nomuuyo mukuru. Musi waJuly 29, 2004, Cleland akazivisa Kerry nehurukuro paDemocratic National Convention
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