OTTAWA - John Manley says he won’t be seeking the leadership of the federal Liberal party.

The former deputy prime minister joins Frank McKenna as the second Liberal heavyweight to count himself out of the race to replace Stephane Dion.

Manley was a stalwart in the cabinet of then-prime minister Jean Chretien but has been out of politics since the election of 2004.

He briefly considered a run for the top job in 2006 when the Liberals chose Dion as a come-from-behind, compromise candidate from a wide field.

But as he’s done this time, Manley ultimately decided he wasn’t prepared to throw his hat in the ring.

McKenna, the former premier of New Brunswick, formally announced last week that he would not enter the leadership race.