McCain urges immigration reform, leaving abortion 'alone'

Former Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Sunday the GOP needs to embrace a bigger tent and immigration reform - and leave abortion "alone” in the wake of the disappointing 2012 presidential elections.

“We have to have a bigger tent. No doubt about it. And obviously we have to do immigration reform,” McCain said on “Fox News Sunday.” “There is no doubt whatsoever that the demographics are not on our side.”

The Arizona senator added that the GOP needed to have a more proactive conversation about the policies it supports.

“We are going to give a much more positive agenda. It can’t be just being against the Democrats… You’ve got to be for things, and we have to give them something like the ‘Contract for America,’” he said.

While he was proud of his personal pro-life message, McCain said “as far as young women are concerned, I don’t think anybody like me – I can state my position on abortion, but other than that, leave the issue alone when we are in the kind of economic situation, and frankly, national security situation that we’re in.”