WASHINGTON • Battered by weeks of negative headlines, Republican Jeb Bush has launched a campaign reboot with a Jeb Can Fix It tour and the release of an e-book that reveals a more personal side to the 2016 presidential candidate who has struggled on the public stage.

Mr Bush's dismal performance at a debate of Republican presidential candidates last Wednesday in Colorado was an added burden to a candidate once considered the favourite, but who is now suffering falling poll numbers and fund raising.

In Tampa, Florida yesterday, Mr Bush began his comeback with a speech presenting himself as a problem-solving politician who carried out conservative reforms as its governor from 1999 to 2007.

A campaign aide called the speech a "rejection of the 'competing pessimisms' created in the Obama era in favour of leadership that solves problems".

His 730-page e-book, Reply All, is a compilation of e-mail exchanges with Floridians during his time as governor, covering everything from his drive for tax cuts and education reform to dealing with hurricanes.

Meanwhile, Republican anger and frustration over the last candidates' debate resulted on Friday in the Republican National Committee suspending a debate scheduled for Feb 26 hosted by NBC News and its sister station, Telemundo.

"CNBC's moderators engaged in a series of 'gotcha' questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates," party chairman Reince Priebus wrote to Mr Andrew Lack, the chairman of NBC News.

NBC News called it "a disappointing development," but some officials privately believe it was a warning shot, with the dispute likely to resolve itself before the debate is due.

REUTERS, NEW YORK TIMES