I think you are right, absolutely. But he did come off as pest and a barking Chihuahua, too desperate for words. But, his truer self is a good guy.
I think his bark came from the flak he took, years ago, when he gave the Republican rebuttal to the State of the Union address. He was excoriated for being too meek and milquetoast. Go figure. A guy can’t win for losing either way. It’s unfair but it’s reality.
He let the Beltway Republicans spin his brains. He is still in that camp.
Well, at the time, he had a bad cold and laryngitis, but most folks never cut him any slack despite it.