Rauner says he misspoke last month when he proposed cutting the minimum wage and actually supports an increase in the rate.
But in the new video that surfaced Thursday, it appears he has campaigned against raising the minimum wage for months.
The YouTube video posted by a Democratic super-PAC, shows Republican Rauner four months ago telling downstate Ford County Republicans he is against raising the state's $8.25 per hour minimum wage.
"I am adamantly, adamantly against raising the minimum wage," Rauner said in the video.
Then last month, the multi-millionaire businessman went another step and proposed lowering the Illinois rate to the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage rate.
"I will advocate moving the Illinois minimum wage back to the national minimum wage," Rauner said.
Despite having been recorded twice speaking out against the minimum wage after controversy over his comments erupted, Rauner told ABC7 Eyewitness News by telephone Wednesday he does not oppose the minimum wage or even raising it.
"We could increase it to help struggling families to help their income levels," he said. "We could increase the minimum wage. It's doable and I support it."
"His idea is all backwards," Mayor Rahm Emanuel said.
Emanuel, a Democrat and Rauner friend, would not answer when asked if he thought the Republican's change of heart was sincere.
"The strategy for increasing the middle class and strengthening the middle class is not reducing their income," Emanuel said.
Meanwhile, Democratic Governor Pat Quinn issued a statement Thursday saying he doesn't believe Rauner's change of position.
He called the Republican's call for a cut in the minimum wage "cruel, heartless and wrong".
