Romney's tap dance around Obamacare

(CNN) – Mitt Romney gave the appearance of taking a stunning new position Sunday when it seemed he was embracing parts of Obamacare, a law he's vowed – vehemently and repeatedly – to repeal if he wins the election.

"So you'd keep that part of the federal plan," NBC's "Meet the Press" host David Gregory  asked the candidate , referring to Obamacare's provisions about pre-existing conditions and coverage for young adults. Romney replied, "I'm not getting rid of all of health care reform. Of course, there are a number of things that I like in health care reform that I'm going to put in place."

– Follow the Ticker on Twitter:  @PoliticalTicker

– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.

While it may have sounded like Romney was agreeing with parts of Obamacare, parsing his words it's evident he embraced "health care reform" but not "Obamacare" or the "health care reform law." The Romney campaign insists that he was not embracing any part of the health care reform law known as Obamacare. And a spokesperson told CNN Romney is in favor of health care reform, though not in the same way it is handled under Obamacare.

"He will repeal Obamacare," the spokesperson wrote in an email to CNN.

Obamacare, among other things, forbids health insurance companies from denying people insurance because they have a pre-existing condition.

Romney has said his own health care reforms would assure that some, but not all, people with pre-existing conditions would be guaranteed coverage. In speeches and on his website, he's said that people with pre-existing conditions who've maintained "continuous" health insurance in the past should be assured insurance.