Republican Party plans comeback

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Bruised by charges from Democrats that they've become the "party of no," Republicans are launching Thursday an outreach effort to reshape their party's image.

The initiative, called the National Council for a New America, will send party leaders across the country for a series of town halls on health care, the economy, energy and national security.

The goal is for the council's panel of experts to listen to the American people and report back to House and Senate Republican leaders with new strategies for rehabilitating the party and winning elections in 2010.

"The National Council for New America is not so much a rebranding effort. It is an opportunity for those of us in office to engage in a conversation, a two-way conversation with the people of this country," said Rep. Eric Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House.

"We can begin to lay out the solutions that Republicans have, listen to the American people about the challenges facing this country, and those that they face in the community," said Cantor, who played a key role in developing the effort.

Members of the council include Arizona Sen. John McCain, the former Republican presidential candidate; former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, GOP sources familiar with the plans told CNN.