ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The leadership of the Progressive Conservative party in Newfoundland and Labrador is going to a second ballot as former cabinet minister John Ottenheimer took the top spot Saturday in the first round of voting.
Ottenheimer, 61, faces Paul Davis on the second ballot as Steve Kent was knocked out of the race but announced from the stage that he was supporting Davis in the next round of voting.
After his announcement, Kent said he believes Davis, 53, can govern immediately because he has a seat in the legislature while Ottenheimer would have to find a riding to run in.
The convention hung on whether Kent's decision will sway enough of his delegates to back Davis, a former cabinet minister who stepped down to seek the leadership.
"I would suspect a chunk of my delegates will follow me," he said.
The winner will soon be sworn in as the province's 12th premier and must call an election within 12 months of taking office.
The first ballot saw Ottenheimer take a 36 vote lead over Davis.
Ottenheimer had 289 votes, Davis 253 and Kent 141.
Desmond Whalen, president of the provincial Young Progressive Conservatives, said he thinks the race could go either way.
"I think Davis has a good shot at it," said Whalen, who as a member of the convention committee is not publicly endorsing either candidate. "That said, John Ottenheimer did his work and has a good shot too."
Natural Resources Minister Derrick Dalley, a Davis supporter, said whoever wins the party must emerge united.
The Tories have held majority power since 2003 and were a potent force under former premier Danny Williams, but they are hoping Saturday's old-style leadership convention will help revive the party from a slump in its popularity.
Former premier Kathy Dunderdale won re-election in 2011 after Williams retired from politics but she quit in January amid questions about her leadership and after Newfoundland-wide power blackouts.
The party has lost four straight byelections — three of them in districts that were held by senior cabinet ministers, including the one held by Dunderdale.
Ottenheimer is a veteran of several cabinet portfolios and was health minister in 2005 amidst a scandal over botched breast cancer tests. He apologized for his role at that time during the second of three leadership debates.
He left politics in 2007 due to health issues and later served as chairman of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro. But he cast himself Saturday as "the candidate of change and the candidate of renewal."
"To the naysayers who delight in our perceived demise I serve you notice," he said to cheers from his supporters.
Davis, a former police officer, is also promising to rejuvenate the party.
"Don't count us out," he told delegates to roars and chants of "Davis!" from his camp before the first ballot.
Pundits who've written the party's death warrant aren't always right, he said. Pollsters wrongly predicted election results in B.C., Alberta, Quebec and Ontario, he said.
"And mark my words, they'll be proven wrong again right here in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Davis was diagnosed in 2011 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma but has since recovered.
He said as premier he would work to ensure offshore oil wealth — $19 billion in royalties since 1997 — is better shared around the province, including a revamped fishery.
Kent, 36, is a career politician who was first elected to Mount Pearl city council near St. John's at 19. He was the municipal affairs minister before stepping aside to run for the leadership.
