Why Obama and Romney won’t stop poking each other

By the beginning of 2015, it was Obama’s turn to throw a verbal dart. Romney was considering another White House bid and had begun to talk about combating poverty — an effort, perhaps, to atone for his infamous comment in 2012 that 47 percent of the nation did not pay income taxes and would never vote for him.

Appearing at the House Democrats’ retreat in January, Obama mockingly noted that Romney was “suddenly deeply concerned about poverty.”

Obama added: “That’s great. Let’s do something about it.”

Romney, who ultimately chose not to run, replied on Twitter: “Mr. Obama, wonder why my concern about poverty? The record number of poor in your term, and your record of failure to remedy.”

White House officials declined to comment for this story.