> Not middle-class, middle-income.

Unless we are claiming the middle classes live on inherited wealth, I'm not sure the distinction is meaningful?

> Also, that was 14 years ago.

Indeed. In that time the $250k+ club has gone from 2% to 10% of American households, so Mitt Romney might have to consider ~$350k middle-income now

For a slightly more grounded perspective, Pew Research currently maintains that the middle income figure is between $60k-160k