Pelosi endorses Clinton as California primary voting begins

WASHINGTON (AP) — House minority leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed Hillary Clinton for president today as her home state of California began presidential primary voting, ending months of artful fence-sitting during which Pelosi praised both Clinton and rival Bernie Sanders.

"I'm a voter in California and I have voted for Hillary Clinton for president of the United States," Pelosi told ABC's "Good Morning America," saying she is "proud to endorse her for that position."

Pelosi said in a statement issued by her office that Clinton has demonstrated "her vision, her knowledge, her ability, indeed her stamina, to get the job done for the American people."

Clinton reached the 2,383 delegates needed to become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee on the eve of today's voting, according to an Associated Press tally.

In a call for party unity after a divisive primary season, Pelosi added: "I congratulate and thank Sen. Bernie Sanders for the great invigoration he is bringing to the presidential primary, and welcome the political and intellectual participation of his supporters to advance our shared fight for progress for the American people."