Trudeau wins backing for Liberal leadership from Dominic LeBlanc

Justin Trudeau and Dominic LeBlanc speak to reporters in Dieppe on Oct. 5, 2012.

Justin Trudeau’s aspirations to lead the federal Liberal Party gained momentum Friday after a long-time friend and political colleague threw his support in Trudeau’s corner.

MP Dominic LeBlanc announced that he would be endorsing Trudeau in front of hundreds of Liberal supporters at the Dieppe Arts and Cultural Centre.

As a contender for the party leadership back in 2008, some felt LeBlanc was poised for another run.

However, LeBlanc said Friday he will not enter the race, instead throwing his support behind Trudeau.

“To support Justin's bid for the Liberal leadership and more importantly to prepare the way for Justin Trudeau to become one of Canada's great prime ministers,” he told the crowd.

Trudeau and his family spent two weeks in early August visiting LeBlanc in New Brunswick. LeBlanc said the two didn’t discuss who was going to run, but rather what they could accomplish as a team.

“It was more focusing on how to get our country back on the right track than personal plans or ambitions. It was about more how to get it done,” said LeBlanc.

The room was at maximum capacity with Liberal supporters, including several youth who said Trudeau has made politics accessible to their generation.

“He's a lot more into Twitter and things like that that young people are more attracted to, and YouTube and things like that. He's more up-to-date,” said Tristeian Gaudet.

After the event, Trudeau spent time shaking hands and taking pictures with supporters. The leadership hopeful will stay in the Maritimes for another few days and is scheduled to spend part of the weekend at LeBlanc’s cottage.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Jonathan MacInnis