By WFMB/RFD Radio

SPRINGFIELD – The governor has walked back comments surrounding the car attack that has left three dead in Charlottesville, Va.

Initially, Republican Bruce Rauner wouldn’t call the act terrorism. Beginning last weekend, Rauner chose not to use the term over and then again on Monday at a news conference. Rauner tussled with reporters saying the attack was outrageous and horrible but at the time he wouldn’t call it a terrorist attack.

“You define terrorism, what I’ll say is that is horrible, horrible, behavior, completely beyond the pale and we in America have to fight against it in every regard,” Rauner said. “All of us Americans have to be strong against this.”

Rauner also called Senate President John Cullerton asking for a meeting before his education funding veto outrageous.

Rauner began taking heat over not having a stronger stance on the car attack from civic groups and Democratic candidates for Governor. A few hours later he issued a statement by email denouncing the attack calling it an act of domestic terrorism.