Former Massachusetts Governor and failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney admits that Romneycare, passed while he was governor, was the precursor to Obamacare.

Romney spoke while discussing the death of his business friend and political backer Thomas Stemberg, the founder of Staples.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Romney praised Stemberg for encouraging him to create Romneycare in Massachusetts.

“Without Tom pushing it, I don’t think we would have had Romneycare,” Romney said. “Without Romneycare, I don’t think we would have Obamacare. So, without Tom a lot of people wouldn’t have health insurance.”

That’s a stark turnaround from Romney’s rhetoric on the campaign trail in 2012, as he repeatedly condemned Obamacare as a job killer and a threat to quality health insurance for Americans.

UPDATE: Romney provides an explanation on Twitter: