Mitt Romney, still lead contender for the Republican nomination, is said to be worth $250m. But have some sympathy: in a country that's still rocked by the effects of global recession, it can be hard for a multimillionaire to hit the right note. In the past he's raised hackles, and laughs, by claiming that he is unemployed (actually, he's rich enough never to work again). Ten days ago, on a visit to a motor racing speedway, he said that while he's not a big racing fan himself, he has friends who own teams.

Given the background, it's not too surprising that some people have leapt on comments his wife, Ann, made about money. "It can be here today and gone tomorrow," she told Fox News, remarking that "we can be poor in spirit":

Confused by what the rich mean when they talk about their riches? The Washington Post kindly provides an explanation and a longer excerpt from Ann Romney's interview, much of which is about the multiple sclerosis she suffers, and her thoughts for other ill people. But with nearly 13 million Americans unemployed, and one in 15 living below the poverty line, perhaps her choice of words was unfortunate.