Obama Campaign Manager Jim Messina in an interview with the New York Times published Monday explaining why the president was now encouraging donors to support outside groups.

In a major reversal, President Obama is endorsing the activity of Super PACs, outside political action committees whose unlimited spending the president previously called a threat to democracy and a vehicle for foreign powers to influence American elections.

Just as during the 2008 presidential campaign, when Obama opted to become the first major-party presidential candidate since Watergate to eschew public financing, the Obama campaign offered its endorsement of pro-Obama Super PAC Priorities USA Action with a tone of high-minded regret.