California Gov. Jerry Brown endorses Hillary Clinton

SACRAMENTO, May 31 (UPI) -- California Gov. Jerry Brown endorsed Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton in the state's primary June 7, citing her "tenacity and skill" as the best way for Democrats to stop Donald Trump.

Brown lauded the outsider campaign of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders centered on issues of economic inequality, noting, "In 1992, I attempted a similar campaign" for president.

Brown was bested by another young, up-and-coming Democratic governor that year -- Bill Clinton. Despite Brown's checkered history with the Clintons, he made his primary reason for his endorsement clear Tuesday: the need for unity among Democrats to defeat Trump, the Republican Party's presumptive nominee, in the general election.

"Donald Trump, has called climate change a 'hoax' and said he will tear up the Paris Climate Agreement. He has promised to deport millions of immigrants and ominously suggested that other countries may need the nuclear bomb. He has also pledged to pack the Supreme Court with only those who please the extreme right," Brown said.

He also praised Clinton's primary campaign success.

"For her part, Hillary Clinton has convincingly made the case that she knows how to get things done and has the tenacity and skill to advance the Democratic agenda. Voters have responded by giving her approximately 3 million more votes -- and hundreds more delegates -- than Sanders," Brown said. "Clinton's lead is insurmountable and Democrats have shown -- by millions of votes -- that they want her as their nominee."