Mac Will Bring the Union Back: 1864

Lincoln believed he would lose his bid for re-election in 1864. The Civil War had dragged on since 1861 and people were tired and frustrated. Undaunted, Lincoln was renominated. He then moved to form a National Union ticket. He dumped his loyal Vice-President Hannibal Hamlin for Andrew Johnson. Johnson was the only southern senator to remain loyal to the union. Johnson proved more loyal to the Union during the war than the Democratic candidate.
The Democrats nominated Union General George B. McClellan. During the war, McClellan proved an able organizer and kept his casualty rates relatively low. His troops loved him. However, he was also arrogant and overly cautious. His caution kept him from pressing the war and cost him his job.
The Democrats thought they had the perfect candidate to unseat Lincoln. They promised, "Mac will bring the Union back!" They planned to negotiate a peace with Jefferson Davis. On the other hand, Lincoln promised to press the war and warned voters not "to change horses in the middle of a stream." George W. Bush borrowed this line in 2004. However, without battlefield success, Lincoln was pessimistic about his chances.
Lincoln made plans for the transition to a McClellan Administration. Everyone believed Mac would win until General Sherman intervened. On September 2, 1864, William Tecumseh Sherman took Atlanta. Northerners could see an end to the war. The Democrats looked bad. Why would anyone vote to end the war when Sherman showed it could be won?
The result was predictable. Lincoln won in a landslide. He received 55% of the total vote and 70% of the soldiers' vote. Lincoln's re-election spelled doom for the Confederacy. The CSA hoped to negotiate an end to hostilities with the Democrats. Lincoln would not negotiate.