It was during his campaign for the United States Senate that he first made a speech that received nationwide attention; he gave the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. and stated "there is not a liberal America and a conservative America—there is the United States of America".
Pidato pertamanya yang mendapat perhatian nasional adalah ketika ia berkampanye untuk menjadi senator Amerika Serikat; Dia menyampaikan pidato utama pada Konvensi Nasional Demokrat 2004 . dan menyatakan "tidak ada Amerika liberal atau Amerika konservatif—yang ada hanya Amerika Serikat".