Lisa MacLeod, Ottawa MPP, drops out of Ontario PC leadership race

Ottawa MPP Lisa MacLeod has dropped out of the Ontario Progressive Conservative leadership race and supported Christine Elliott for party leader.

MacLeodmade theannouncement late Friday morning at her campaign headquarters in downtown Ottawa.

She officially announced her withdrawal from the leadership raceand gave her support to Christine Elliott, who is running againstPatrick Brown and Monte McNaughton to replace Tim Hudak.

Ottawa city councillorScott Moffatt took to Twitter on Thursday saying he and fellow councillor Jan Harder were urging MacLeodto run in the newly created federal riding of Nepean.

Ottawa West-Nepean MP John Baird, who announced he is leaving politics earlier this week, was originally slated as the federal candidate for the new Nepean riding.

In an open letter,MacLeodsaid she would "consider running" in the new federal riding after taking some time and speaking to her constituents.

MacLeod was first elected in the rural Nepean-Carleton provincial riding in 2006 and re-elected three more times. The new federal riding of Nepeanoverlaps part ofher provincial riding.