California governor Jerry Brown gave signs in a Wednesday interview on CNN that he may be considering running for president.
Brown, who has run for president three before, spoke with Wolf Blitzer about the current Democratic field. The Democrat said he has not yet endorsed a candidate, calling frontrunner Hillary Clinton “formidable” and refused to give advice about Vice President Joe Biden, who is reportedly mulling a run.
“I will say, though, about the Clintons, with some experience, they are very formidable,” said Brown, who ran against Bill Clinton in 1992. “I would not underestimate Hillary Clinton.”
Blitzer pressed Brown. “What are you waiting for?” said the host.
“I’m not as hasty as I was as a younger candidate or a younger elected official,” Brown continued. “I’m enjoying the luxury of being on the sidelines, watching these shows tonight, watching the parade, and where I can be helpful, I’ll jump in at the appropriate time.”
When Blitzer asked repeatedly about the prospect of a Biden candidacy, Brown declined to comment.
“I would say, though, it is early,” Brown said. “You could have a lot of big surprises, a lot of action between now and the first Iowa caucus and the New Hampshire primary. A lot’s going to happen in the Republican primary, and I think some things could happen on the Democratic side as well.”
Watch the video below:
Earlier in the interview, Brown also made a comment that indicated he believed Americans were worse off economically since before Obama was elected president. While listing out several problems facing the country, Brown said America has a “financial system that is leaving the average American seven percent poorer than he or she was seven years ago.”
Watch that video below:
Brown first ran for president in 1976, during his first term as governor. He ran again briefly in 1980, and then again in 1992, when he became the biggest challenger to Bill Clinton for the Democratic nomination.
