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Stressing "shared values and how we can work together," Republican Party chief Ken Mehlman urged Nevada Hispanics on Friday to rally behind President Bush's plan for Social Security reform and GOP strategies to improve the economy, education and health care. "Our goal should be that there's greater economic equality in this country," Mehlman said in an interview before addressing a crowd of about 40 Hispanic political leaders and organizers at the Gold Coast hotel-casino. In pitching Bush's plan for reform, Mehlman called personal retirement accounts an important way for the 41 percent of Hispanics who rely solely on Social Security to save for the future. But the state's top Democratic Party official called Mehlman brave for bringing a GOP message to Nevada, where 60 percent of Hispanic voters backed Sen. John Kerry last November. Bush nevertheless carried Nevada, 50 percent to 48 percent. "It's gutsy that he's even addressing the Social Security issue with the Hispanic community," said Adriana Martinez, who attended Mehlman's speech. "Out of all minorities, Hispanic families would lose the most with (Social Security) privatization." [more]