Former Florida governor Jeb Bush started to scale back his business interests as he seriously considers a run for the White House run in 2016.

A Republican aide told a Washington newspaper that Bush had quit board memberships and pulled out as a paid adviser to an education-related company.

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Bush's spokeswoman Kristy Campbell said his decision to decline many business commitments, starting New Year's Day, indicated he could take on a "potential" run for president.

A brother of former US President George W Bush, Jeb Bush announced last month that he was "exploring" a run for president.

A 2016 bid for the White House could pit him against former first lady and senator, Hillary Clinton.

Clinton's husband, Bill, defeated the former governor's father, George HW Bush, in the 1992 election.

The former Secretary of State is widely expected to be a Democratic Party presidential contender, although she has yet to announce her decision in 2015.

Meanwhile, Bush has turned down an invitation to deliver a speech at an event, which immigration hard-liner U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Kiron) organized.

An aide to the political heavyweight said on Wednesday Bush is grateful for King's invitation but he could not attend the January 24 Iowa Freedom Summit because of a conflict in schedule.

Political observers said Bush's absence from the summit is too conspicuous because of King's clout as a power broker in Iowa, which hosts the first presidential caucuses of the US.

Bush is one of the Republican Party's most outspoken supporters of widespread immigration reform. A conservative lawmaker, King is opposed to such efforts. In November, King clinched a seventh term as congressman.

New Jersey Governor Chirs Christie, along with several other potential Republican presidential contenders, is expected to take part in the summit.

Other Iowa summit speakers are former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Also expected to show up are Tennessee U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Utah Sen. Mike Lee, former Ambassador John Bolton and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.

TagsJeb Bush, U.S. election, presidential run 2016, presidential election 2016, Presidential candidate