Bleich met Barack Obama almost 20 years before Bleich was nominated to become U.S. Ambassador to Australia , when Bleich tried to recruit Obama to become a law clerk to Abner Mikva . The two later became friends . Bleich was in attendance during Obama 's keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and shared breakfast with him two days later
2004 Democratic National Convention
2004 Democratic National Convention
Jeff Bleich