(CNN) As Joe Biden prepared to tell a crowd that he'd changed his mind and now supported allowing federal funds to pay for abortions, he offered a disclaimer: He still didn't think he'd been wrong before.

"I make no apologies for my last position and I make no apologies for what I'm about to say," the former vice president told those gathered for a Democratic National Committee gala in Atlanta on Thursday night.

Biden's remarks sought to avoid the appearance of flip-flopping on a key issue out of political expediency. Still, pressure from both inside and outside Biden's campaign, including a direct appeal from a prominent supporter, actress and activist Alyssa Milano, led Biden to conclude he had to reconsider his position, according to campaign officials with direct knowledge ofinternal discussions around the matter.

The tumultuous 38 hours offered the first window into how the man vying to lead Democrats into the future will wrestle with a political past that is now out of step with the party on some major issues.

It also raised questions about how Biden will handle clashes with his Democratic opponents on issues such as his role in crafting the 1994 crime bill and his vote to authorize the war in Iraq.

"It takes courage to admit when you're wrong, especially when those decisions affect millions of people," Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton tweeted Friday. "Now do the Iraq War."

Biden long supported the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal dollars from paying for abortions except in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the