WASHINGTON - The White House said Wednesday that Sen. Bob Bennett has "called the bluff of Democratic leadership" by challenging them to help find a way to keep Social Security afloat. With the blessing of President Bush, Bennett is drafting a Social Security plan that does not include the president's plan to divert some of the Social Security taxes into private accounts in hope of engaging Democrats on the issue. Democrats have refused to negotiate unless the private accounts are taken off the table. In a statement Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Republicans would try to coax Democrats to negotiate, then slip private accounts in at the last minute, and reiterated demands that privatization be scrapped entirely. "[Bennett] essentially called the bluff of the Democratic leadership," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. "It appears the Democratic leadership really isn't intent on working to get something done for the American people; they're intent on putting up a stop sign and saying, 'No, we're not going to let this problem be solved.' " President Bush reiterated his position in a speech Wednesday that private accounts are the best solution. Bennett also is drafting legislation to create such accounts. - Robert Gehrke