OTTAWA - Former cabinet minister Martin Cauchon is testing the waters for a Liberal leadership bid.

The 46-year-old is touting himself as a potential agent of generational change.

Cauchon, who quit politics in 2004 after 11 years at Jean Chretien's cabinet table, confirmed today that he's seriously considering making a comeback.

He says he's "very much flattered and pleased" by encouragement he's received from party members.

Perceived front-runners Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae are in their early 60's.

The same goes for two other potential heavyweight contenders: Frank McKenna and John Manley.

Ignatieff and Rae are both sitting M-P's and have leadership machines that have essentially been idling since the 2006 contest, in which they placed second and third respectively.

Stephane Dion won that contest but announced his decision to step down after taking the party to one of its worst electoral defeats in history last week.