CNN State of the Union: Giuliani Makes Case for Why He'd Be Best GOP Presidential Candidate

Think Progress: Giuliani: ‘ The Republican Party Would Be Well Advised To Get The Heck Out Of People’s Bedrooms’ (VIDEO)
CNN: Giuliani to GOP: Stay out of gay marriage
POLITICO: Giuliani to GOP on gay marriage: 'Stay out of it'

"I think the Republican Party would be well advised to get the heck out of people's bedrooms and let these things get decided by states," Giuliani said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."  

The libertarian streak of the Republican party, he added, should want to avoid “getting involved in people’s sexual lives.” 

“Stay out of it,” Giuliani said."We'd be a much more successful political party if we stuck to our economic, conservative roots and our idea of a strong, assertive America that is not embarrassed to be the leader of the world.” 

Giuliani, who is considering a run for president in 2012, has long supported civil unions. Although he said he believes marriage is between a man and a woman, he can "live with" the legalization in New York. 

"I think it's wrong, but there are other things that I think are wrong that get decided by democratic vote," Giuliani told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley. "I see more harm, however, by dwelling so much on this subject of gays and lesbians and whether it's right or wrong in politics."

Poll Watch: PPP (D) New Hampshire Political Survey

Which of the following best describes your opinion on gay marriage?  Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry; or, gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry; or, there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship.

Among Republicans

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 14%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry 47%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 38%

Among Independents

• Gay couples should be allowed to legally marry 47%
• Gay couples should be allowed to form civil unions but not legally marry 36%
• There should be no legal recognition of a gay couple's relationship 13%

Survey of 769 New Hampshire voters was conducted March 31 - April 3, 2011. The margin of error is +/- 3.5 percentage points. Party ID breakdown: 35% Democrat; 29% Republican; 36% Independent/Other. Political ideology: 32% Moderate; 23% Somewhat conservative; 21% Somewhat liberal; 15% Very conservative; 9% Very liberal.