Is $250,000 middle class? Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders think so

Middle Class, IMO means that the majority of people are earning that much. I remember reading somewhere that >90% of the population earn $90,000 or less.
Senators earn $174,000 per year. Clinton earned over $600,000 for giving a few speaking engagements. I think they are using that figure to try and convince the gullible that they are just like them in their earnings.
If they think that middle class is $250K, where do they think the "poverty" line and lower class levels are? Are they going to use the $250K level to promote more Gov't handouts to those who make $90K to try pull votes?

Since when? I don't even know how to respond except, no. What world are they living in?