Brown Lists His Conditions for Backing Party Nominee : Democrats: Endorsement would hinge on limits on contributions and other reforms.

Presidential candidate Edmund G. (Jerry) Brown Jr. said Sunday that any endorsement by him of the Democratic presidential nominee would hinge on whether the nominee supports $100 contribution limits and other reforms.

On Sunday, in response to reporters’ questions, he had said he would “certainly offer” his support to the eventual nominee.

The former California governor has little chance of catching Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton in the delegate race for the Democratic presidential nomination.

But late Sunday, after Brown had time to digest headlines that had him pledging to back Clinton, his campaign issued a statement clarifying the promise to support whoever is nominated. The statement also noted that Brown has repeatedly said he thinks that someone other than Clinton will be the nominee.

“Of course I’ll support the nominee, but only under the right conditions,” Brown said in a telephone interview from his San Francisco home. “But I was not thinking about Bill Clinton. He was the farthest thing from my mind. I don’t think Clinton’s going to get the nomination. The latest polls show him slipping precipitously in the polls against President Bush. We’re fighting for a fair and open convention.”

On Wednesday, Brown had named the conditions. He said the nominee must limit campaign contributions to $100, as Brown is doing. The nominee also must favor term limits and same-day voter registration, and declare Election Day a holiday.