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Calif. drought will affect people worldwide, Gov. Brown says

California Gov. Jerry Brown tells Scott Pelley the drought affecting his state will have an impact worldwide. He also speaks about why he's running for re-election as governor and whether he'll make another run for the Democratic presidential nomination
Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown talks drought, political future 03:25

OAKLAND, Calif. -- It was storm across California Friday, a break, but not a solution to an extreme drought. It may be the single biggest worry for Gov. Jerry Brown, who spoke with CBS News Thursday.


GOV. JERRY BROWN: Well, this is about the worst drought, no question. So this is a serious human challenge and an economic challenge for our farmers and for a number of small communities.

SCOTT PELLEY: Half of the produce in all of America comes from California. What does the drought mean to the country?

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Scott Pelley speaks with California Gov. Jerry Brown. CBS News
GOV. JERRY BROWN: The drought means that nature is real ... the natural systems now are not supplying our water. We're going to have to adapt, and each year we'll take a look at it and act prudently. We'll invest in new technology. We're going to have to be very inventive, but if it continues, it is going to hurt the production of food and fiber from California. It'll affect people, not just in California, not just in the United States, but even in the world.

SCOTT PELLEY: Thursday you filed the papers to run for another term as governor. Why do you want another four years? What do you want to accomplish?

GOV. JERRY BROWN: Well, I like this kind of work. I've been doing it now for quite a bit of time. But I've had some success, and I see great opportunities, even still, in building high-speed rail and taking care of our water needs, in fixing our unfunded pensions, in actually making our prison realignment work, and in making a reality out of our returning power to local schools.

SCOTT PELLEY: You were, in 1975, one of the youngest governors ever in the state. And now, in 2014, you're the oldest governor ever to serve. What's the difference between Gov. Brown '75 and Gov. Brown 2014?

GOV. JERRY BROWN: Lots of years. Lots of decades, lots of experiences. I know better what works. I have a sense that things take a longer time. Now I can look back to 1974, and that was 40 years ago, and can see how long it takes to actually get things done. I'm working on projects that I started when I was governor the first time. So I'd say the difference is I have more patience. I was in a big hurry. In fact, I ran for president with -- in less than two years.

SCOTT PELLEY: You've run for the Democratic nomination three times. It's coming around again.

GOV. JERRY BROWN: I know. But I am very excited about being governor. I'm being successful, and I understand that you gotta stick to things and work, not just day by day, but year by year. And that's where my heart is, right here in California.

SCOTT PELLEY: Was that a 'no' I heard?

GOV. JERRY BROWN: You could construe it as such.


Brown heads into his re-election campaign with a 60 percent approval rating among likely voters.

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