One has to feel a little sorry for John Hickenlooper. Since formally announcing his intention to awkwardly elbow his way into the very crowded room of Democratic 2020 presidential hopefuls, the former Colorado governor has not been able to find solid footing.

His plan was to stand out as a moderate voice amid the cacophony of far-leftist rhetoric erupting from the rest of field. That lasted about as long as it took to schedule his first Sunday morning talk show, whereupon, evidently sensing that moderation was not going to get him anywhere, he demurred on the question of whether or not he considered himself a capitalist.