Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) on Sunday said that former Presidential nominee Mitt Romney and other Republicans had made a mistake by trying to change abortion laws and that his party should “leave the issue alone.”

During an interview on Fox News, host Chris Wallace noted that the presidential candidate who McCain had actively campaigned for had lost unmarried women by 36 points, Hispanics by 44 points and young people by 23 points.

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“I think we have to have a bigger tent, that’s no doubt about it,” the Arizona Republican admitted. “Obviously, we have to do immigration reform. There is no doubt whatsoever that the demographics are not on our side and we’re going to have to give a much more positive agenda. It can’t be just being against the Democrats and against Harry Reid and against Obama. You’ve got to be for things. And we have to give them something like the [1994] Contract with America that we gave them some years ago.”

He continued: “And as far as young women are concerned, absolutely, I don’t think anybody like me — I can state my position on abortion, but other than that, leave the issue alone.”

“You would allow people to have freedom of choice?” Wallace pressed.

“I would allow people to have those opinions and respect those opinions,” McCain replied. “I’m proud of my pro-life position and record. But if someone disagrees with me, I respect your views.”

Watch this video from Fox News’ Fox News Sunday, broadcast Nov. 25, 2012.

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