Jerry Nadler says Democrat Rep. Jeff Van Drew floating he might change political parties is due to poor polling in his home district and not impeachment after Trump thanks the 'gutsy' lawmaker for his support

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Jerry Nadler insisted Sunday morning that impeachment against Donald Trump isn't a partisan issue as he blasted a fellow Democratic representative for poor polling being the reason he is considering switching parties.

Jeff Van Drew met with Donald Trump Friday morning, and the president urged the Democratic lawmaker to switched to the GOP ahead of the full House vote on impeachment.

'Well first of all, what he's reacting to is the public polling that shows he can't get renominated,' House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos Sunday morning.

'His electorate in his district is 24 per cent to renominate him and 64 per cent to nominate to somebody else,' Nadler continued.

 Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler said Sunday morning one of his fellow Democratic representative is considering switching parties due to poor polling and not because the party has gone too far left. 'Well first of all, what he's reacting to is the public polling that shows he can't get renominated,' Nadler said

Democratic Senator Chris Coons admitted that there needs to be less 'purity tests' in politics so people within the same party could have differing opinions without potentially losing their support within the caucus

Van Drew represents New Jersey's 2nd congressional district, where Trump is popular, and is one of the Democrats' biggest opponents of impeaching the president.

'More to the point, this is not political,' Nadler said in his interview on This Week. 'We should not be looking at those things. This is the defense of our Democracy. Do we stay a Democratic Republic, or do we turn into a tyranny.'

Nadler's committee voted on Friday to confirm two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The vote was split down party lines.

The vote came after weeks of closed-door and public hearings before the House Intelligence Committee, which is chaired by California Democrat Adam Schiff.

Next week, it is expected that the full House will vote on the articles. After that, the proceedings will move to the Republican-controlled Senate in the new year – where it will surely fail and the president will be acquitted.

In his interview, Nadler also reiterated his commonly used accusation that the president is a threat to U.S. national security.

"This president conspired, sought foreign interference in the 2016 election," Nadler told ABC New. "He is openly seeking interference in the 2020 election and he poses a continuing threat to our national security and to the integrity of our elections to our democratic system itself. We cannot permit that to continue." 

Jeff Van Drew is said to be considering switching to the Republican party – and could make the announcement as early as next week – after meeting with Donald Trump on Friday

Chris Coons, a Democratic senator from Delaware who will hear the case when it reaches the Senate, claimed Sunday that there needs to be 'less purity tests' in politics when asked about Van Drew. 

'You know, our politics has become so tribal now. Think of this, you have a Democratic member of Congress who's now going to switch parties, and it may be simply because he couldn't politically survive in the Democratic party by opposing impeachment,' NBC News' Chuck Todd said on Meet the Press Sunday morning.

'What does that tell you?' he asked. 'Should the Democratic party be a big enough tent that you can vote against impeachment and stay a good standing member of the Democratic party, or not?'

'Well, I do think we need to have a wider aperture for our politics in America-- and less purity test,' Coons told Todd, adding the same point Nadler made about Van Drew's performance in his home district.

'But that particular case is someone who is underwater, as you referenced by I think 26 points among his own constituency, among the Democrats in his district. It's a very conservative district,' he said.

'Whether or not one or two members of the House caucus vote against it, I think it will come out of the House with an overwhelming vote,' the Democratic senator said of impeachment.

On Saturday, Trump thanked Van Drew, who he called 'gutsy,' for his support.

'Thank you for your honesty Jeff. All of the Democrats know you are right, but unlike you, they don't have the 'guts' to say so!' Trump tweeted early Sunday of one of only two Democrats in the House who oppose impeachment

The Washington Post reported that Van Drew had a Friday meeting with Trump where the president urged him to join the Republican party.

Trump retweeted a post Sunday which said Van Drew is 'believed to be strongly considering' the switch, tweeting: 'Wow, that would be big. Always heard Jeff is very smart!' 

He also tweeted: 'Thank you for your honesty Jeff. All of the Democrats know you are right, but unlike you, they don't have the 'guts' to say so!'   

Van Drew - who represents a district that Trump is popular in - is among the Democrats' biggest opponents of impeaching Trump.  

The announcement could come as soon as next week, the New York Times reported.   

Two of Van Drew's staff were reportedly told of his decision to switch parties on Saturday. 

Sources told the New York Times that Van Drew told top Trump advisers that he is worried about losing his seat in the 2020 elections. Protesters are seen here outside his office on December 13, railing against his anti-impeachment stance

The Post said the White House meeting was confirmed by one Democratic officials and a Trump administration official.

Two unnamed Democrats and a Republican source told the New York Times that Van Drew has already had discussions with senior Trump advisers to talk about securing Trump's support for switching parties, which would help him avoid a Republican primary challenge in 2020. 

During the conversation between the 66-year-old freshman congressman and Trump advisers, the Republican source said that Van Drew made no bones about the fact that he was worried about losing his seat in the 2020 Democratic primary or general election. 

Van Drew had previously said that he doesn't 'see anything there worthy of actually taking a president out of office' and that he wouldn't support impeachment, leading to the suggestion that a liberal Democrat might step up to challenge him in the primary. 

He was also one of two House Democrats who opposed Trump's impeachment investigation, which resulted in criticism from New Jersey Democratic leaders and progressive activists.

If Van Drew secures Trump's blessing on making the switch to the Republican party, it's said that it will help Van Drew avoid a primary challenger in the 2020 election. Trump is pictured Saturday before the Army-Navy college football game in Philadelphia

Trump thanked Van Drew on Twitter. The congressmen was one of two House Democrats who opposed the House's impeachment investigation

Van Drew represents New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses the southern portion of the state. During the 2016 presidential election, Trump won the district with 50.6 per cent of the vote.

The congressman himself won his seat in the 2018 election with 53 per cent of the vote, over his Republican opponent, Seth Grossman, who made racist comment that lost him the backing of the national Republican party. 

The sources told the New York Times that Van Drew has already discussed which day to make the announcement that he is switching to the Republican party - immediately before or after the House votes on the two articles of impeachment. 

That vote is expected to occur on Wednesday.   

Van Drew has not yet commented on the party-switching claims.