WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A key architect of Republican Sen. John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign has urged conservatives to drop their opposition to same-sex marriage. Steve Schmidt served as Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign manager in 2008. In a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative gay rights group, Steve Schmidt said allowing same-sex marriage is in line with the conservative credo of keeping government out of people's private lives. "There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt, who was McCain's campaign manager, told the group. "I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage. In a marriage, two people are completely responsible to and for each other."
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Steve Schmidt served as Sen. McCain's presidential campaign manager
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Schmidt spoke to Log Cabin Republicans on Friday
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Conservatives should embrace same-sex marriage, Schmidt told the group
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The party, he argued, will grow by accepting gay rights
In fact, nearly 3 in 10 self-identified gays and lesbians voted @placeholder in the last presidential election, according to exit polling.