Vice President Joe Biden apologized to President Obama for preempting him on the gay marriage issue, officials said Thursday.

Biden's Sunday statement on NBC's Meet The Press that he was "absolutely comfortable" with idea of same-sex marriage put political pressure on Obama, who agreed to a hastily scheduled television interview on Wednesday to declare his own support.

Obama told ABC's Good Morning America that he had planned to endorse gay marriage at a later date, but Biden's comments prompted a change of plans.

Biden "probably got out a little bit over his skis, but out of generosity of spirit," Obama said.

Obama also told Robin Roberts of ABC:

"I think Joe is an extremely generous loving person. And I think he was responding honestly in terms of how he felt.

Would I have preferred to have done this in my own way? In my own terms without there being a lot of notice to everybody that this is where we were going? Sure. But all's well that ends well."

Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a private conversation, said Biden apologized to Obama shortly before the president's interview on Wednesday.

Biden's office issued a statement: "The President has been the leader on this issue from day one and the Vice President never intended to distract from that."