WASHINGTON (AP) -- The White House says President Barack Obama wasn't talking about Republican Mitt Romney when the president said he "wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth."

White House press secretary Jay Carney says Obama has used the phrase many times to describe his background. Carney says anyone who thinks it might be a reference to them might "be a little over-sensitive."

The multimillionaire Romney is the son of former Michigan Gov. George Romney, who was president of automaker American Motors before he entered politics. Romney's campaign has said the candidate earned his wealth on his own after getting a business degree and entering the financial world.

Obama made the silver spoon comment during a speech Wednesday at an Ohio community college.