You're right, Obama recieved zero national attention between his 2004 DNC speech and his election to the Senate. I mean being featured 642 times in major U.S. publications in the 3 month span between his 2004 DNC speech and his election to the US Senate hardly makes one a national figure. I mean these 10 articles clealry indicate that Obama was still just a local Illinois figure in late 2004-
The New York Times
October 25, 2004 Monday
Late Edition - Final
Illinois Democrat Wins Kenyan Hearts, in a Landslide
BYLINE: By MARC LACEY
SECTION: Section A; Column 3; Foreign Desk; Nyang'oma Journal; Pg. 4
LENGTH: 983 words
DATELINE: NYANG'OMA, Kenya, Oct. 19
The Philadelphia Inquirer
JULY 27, 2004 Tuesday CITY-D EDITION
A rising star gets a key role tonight;
Barack Obama, the keynote speaker, already has proven
he can reach across societal divides and win support.
BYLINE: Carl Chancellor INQUIRER NATIONAL STAFF
SECTION: NATIONAL; Pg. A10
LENGTH: 783 words
DATELINE: SPRINGFIELD, Ill.
Daily News (New York)
July 29, 2004 Thursday
SPORTS FINAL EDITION
ELEPHANT BLUES GOP HAS NO ONE LIKE OBAMA
BYLINE: BY STANLEY CROUCH
SECTION: EDITORIAL; Pg. 47
LENGTH: 468 words
The Washington Times
August 2, 2004 Monday
Who is Barack Obama?
BYLINE: By THE WASHINGTON TIMES
SECTION: EDITORIALS; Pg. A16
LENGTH: 481 words
The Boston Globe
July 27, 2004, Tuesday THIRD EDITION
IN OBAMA, DEMOCRATS SEE THEIR FUTURE
BYLINE: By Susan Milligan Globe staff
SECTION: METRO/REGION; Pg. B8
LENGTH: 1471 words
The Washington Times
July 29, 2004 Thursday
Obama emerges as major party player
BYLINE: By Brian A. DeBose, THE WASHINGTON TIMES
SECTION: PAGE ONE; 2004 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION; Pg. A01
LENGTH: 910 words
USA TODAY
July 29, 2004, Thursday, FIRST EDITION
Address throws Illinois' Obama into whirlwind of political hope
BYLINE: Richard Benedetto
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 6A
LENGTH: 523 words
DATELINE: BOSTON
The Globe and Mail (Canada)
July 28, 2004 Wednesday
Early Edition
Meet the Democrats' face of the future;
He has yet to hold office beyond Springfield, Ill., but 42-year-old Barack Obama
is being hailed as the man who could become America's first black president, ALAN FREEMAN reports from the Democratic convention
BYLINE: ALAN FREEMAN
SECTION: INTERNATIONAL NEWS; Pg. A10
LENGTH: 758 words
DATELINE: BOSTON
The Washington Post
August 5, 2004 Thursday
Final Edition
Barack Obama, Shaking Up The Sound-Bite Culture
BYLINE: Tina Brown
SECTION: Style; C01 , TINA BROWN
LENGTH: 949 words
USA TODAY
October 14, 2004, Thursday, FINAL EDITION
Obama extends reach beyond Illinois race
BYLINE: Debbie Howlett
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 14A
LENGTH: 1393 words
DATELINE: CHICAGO