The priest seems to make it a practice to climb on the underdog's bandwagon and persuade the other side to compromise.
In a football game the spectators are usually ardent rooters for one of the two teams, but there also is a small group who will climb on the bandwagon of the winning team.
In the past I used to vote for the Democratic ticket, but from now on I'll climb on the Republican bandwagon.
In the past I used to vote the Democratic ticket, but from now on I'll climb on the Republicans' bandwagon.