Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has apologized again and asked for forgiveness after new images of him in blackface emerged, as he continued to press forward with campaign stops in Winnipeg and Saskatoon.

The 47-year-old, whose party won a landslide victory in 2015, has already been under attack for an ethics lapse and other controversies. The radicalized images are fresh blows, coming out one week into a federal election campaign with Trudeau's party in a tight contest against the Conservatives led by Andrew Scheer.

"I recognize that it is something absolutely unacceptable to do," Trudeau, who heads the Liberal Party, told a news conference during a campaign stop in Winnipeg on Thursday.

"Darkening your face, regardless of the context or the circumstances, is always unacceptable because of the racist history of blackface," he said.

"I am deeply sorry, and I apologize."

Earlier, Canadian broadcaster Global News released damning images of Trudeau in ripped jeans and a t-shirt, his arms up and wearing blackface makeup, which his campaign confirmed were taken "in the early 1990s."

This followed Time Magazine's publishing on Wednesday of a photograph of him in dark makeup at an "Arabian Nights"-themed party 18 years ago.

U.S. politicians have been mired in scandal in recent years when found to have worn blackface, which dates back to about 1830, and so-called "minstrel shows." White performers caked their faces in greasepaint or shoe polish and drew on exaggerated lips in a caricature of blacks.

The stereotypes portrayed – that blacks were somehow inferior, ignorant, lazy and even animalistic – cemented racist attitudes for decades. Some of those images still persist today.

On Thursday, Trudeau said he was "wary" of ruling out the existence of even more because he could not remember those that had already come to light.

Answering questions from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Trudeau said that his privilege as the white son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau had come with a "blind spot."

"I come from a place of privilege and I have endeavored in my life to put the advantages and opportunities I've been given to serve this country, to fight for people's rights," he said.

"I've let a lot of people down ... and I stand here today to reflect on that and to ask forgiveness."

Tight race

Even before the scandal, the race going into the October 21 vote was tight. But the release of the bombshell images could be a turning point, in part because Liberals have traditionally attracted support from immigrant communities.

Trudeau, who is known to be strong advocate for multiculturalism, has at least six members of his cabinet with Asian or African heritage.

Trudeau has championed racial equality and diversity as prime minister, and has three prominent ministers of Indian descent in his Cabinet.

"It is clearly very damaging at this time, and the full impacts will not become clear for a week or so," said Frank Graves, head of the EKOS Research polling company. "I don't think it will be fatal, but time will tell."

Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer, Trudeau's main rival, said the video was proof that the prime minister had lied during his apology on Wednesday because he only mentioned having appeared in blackface twice.

"He did something that was racist and he lied about the extent of such activities," Scheer told reporters in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. But Scheer also acknowledged that the Conservatives had leaked the video to Global News.

(Cover: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a campaign in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, September 19, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

(With input from Reuters and AFP)