Greg Selinger has fended off a revolt from within his own party and he remains as premier. Selinger defeated Theresa Oswald on a second ballot vote at the NDP leadership convention on Sunday.

Despite the win, Selinger could face a rough road ahead.

His supporters cheered as the party announced Selinger’s victory, knocking off Theresa Oswald in a second ballot by a mere 33 votes to keep his job.

"You might recall, it’s been a bit arduous,” he said after accepting the result. “It's been difficult. It's been a long journey.”

Now at the end of that journey, Selinger says he is confident the party will unite behind him, despite the close vote, and he will reconnect with those who tried to force him to step aside before the next election.

"We know we have a lot to do together. We know we have to make progress together. I think everyone will take a positive attitude at that," he said.

Selinger says he's already put the past behind him and is ready to move on from the caucus revolt.

The face of that rebellion quickly urged party members to come together

"The results of this election are unanimous,” Theresa Oswald said in an announcement immediately following the results.

But Oswald couldn't say if she will run for her seat again.

"It's a real big decision that has a profound and meaningful impact on one's family,” she told reporters after the results.

While unity was the message from all of the candidates, including Steve Ashton, who finished third, pollster Curtis Brown of Probe Research says Selinger is going to have an uphill battle in front of him With only a year to go before the next election, Selinger has a divided party and faces low polling numbers.

"Greg Selinger's popularity, the party's popularity is pretty low,” said Brown. “If they want to be competitive they have a pretty huge hole that they need to dig out of.”

While it's not clear if Selinger can win the next election, he can declare victory for now.

Earlier today, third-place candidate Steve Ashton said he's taking the vote in stride.

"I went for the gold, got the silver in the end, but got the bronze, actually there are no medals in politics, but it's disappointing, disappointing for your supporters," he said.

Ashton kept mum on which candidate he would support before the final vote, and says he didn't direct his delegates who to choose at the ballot box.

Now, Selinger will try to use that momentum to try and win over Manitoba voters.

"I think you've got to file me under the indifferent category,” said potential voter Mike Friesen as he walked through Osborne Village, “I haven't been following it too closely. I know there's another election coming up soon so I guess we'll decide then."

Others find themselves in Selinger’s corner for now but say that might not be the case on election day, depending what happens between now and then.

"I guess if next year's vote would be tomorrow, it would probably be Greg but I guess I'll see how the year goes. It could change,” said cyclist Joseph Braun.

Sunday’s victory guarantees Selinger at least 13 more months in the premier’s office leading up to the April 19, 2016 election.

The head of Winnipeg's Chamber of Commerce hopes Selinger will use the 13 months before the next election to mend fences with the business community.

"The PST peice had zero consultation. It came as a complete surprise, and when government moves forward with something without taking the time to understand what the impacts are, that's agregious and so that was a problem, and it continues to be a problem with this government that needs to be resurected," said Dave Angus.

Selinger won the race with less than 51 per cent of the vote, and long faces on the convention floor made it clear the NDP remains a party with internal issues to resolve, something opposition parties will attempt to exploit.

"Almost half his own party understood that in 2016, Manitobans will be looking for a new generation of leadership, new ideas," said Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari.

"I think Manitobans want change, and I think the NDP proved today that they aren't going to get change from the NDP," said Progressive Conservative Leader Brian Pallister.

The next provincial election is scheduled for April 19, 2016.

- With a reports by Jeff Keele and Ben Miljure