While Van Drew was a conservative Democrat in a Red district, the Democratic Party leaders tried to strong-arm him into positions that were too far left of his constituency. Not only would adopting those positions have doomed him politically, they would've run counter to the beliefs of those who elected him. He was therefore forced to switch parties. If the Dem leaders hadn't tried to own him, he'd still be a conservative Democrat. They overplayed their hand. Right now he's fighting for us against Atlantic City Electric; and its a fight we need.