I don’t know how important Jerry Brown’s endorsement of Hillary Clinton will prove to be, but in the closing hours of the California Democratic primary campaign, and the closing days of the primary season itself, it cannot hurt. Brown is a four-term governor of California, three-time presidential candidate, and in the reliably dispassionate words of the New York Times, “stands as one of the most popular elected officials in the state.” Since Brown has been uncharacteristically reticent in this campaign season, the Times attaches considerable significance to his endorsement.

Perhaps with reason. But I had another reaction. I doubt that any vote cast for Clinton next week will be a consequence of Jerry Brown’s intervention—as a veteran editorial page editor, I am naturally skeptical of the value of endorsements—but the undue attention paid to his pronouncement suggests that the 78-year-old Brown, at long last, has achieved John Nance Garner status. That is to say, what Brown thinks and says has little significance in itself; but this year’s crop of candidates (Clinton, Bernie Sanders) felt obliged, if only for form’s sake, to seek his blessing.