WASHINGTON (AP) – A spokesman for Republican John McCain says the senator is now backing Indiana’s Richard Mourdock after the candidate explained his remark that pregnancy from rape is “something God intended.”

Brian Rogers issued a statement Thursday just hours after McCain had said he was uncertain about supporting Mourdock in an interview with CNN’s Anderson Cooper. McCain had said his endorsement depended on a Mourdock apology.

Mourdock had made the remark about rape and pregnancy in Tuesday’s debate. Mourdock told a news conference Wednesday that he stood by his comment and regretted that his remark was misconstrued.

Rogers said McCain was traveling Wednesday and had not seen Mourdock’s news conference before the CNN interview. He said McCain was glad that Mourdock “apologized to the people of Indiana and clarified his previous statement.”