Pedzisa mutsara unotevera: Muna 2003, Cleland akatanga kushandira mushandirapamwe womutungamiri wenyika wa2004 womuseneta weMassachusetts John Kerry, uyo aivawo murwi wehondo yeVietnam; Kerry akaenderera mberi nokukunda 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 pa
Gungano reDemocratic National.