I would rather be defeated with the soldier vote behind me than to be...

[AussieMick]

The above posts are fascinating.
I'd like to make a , maybe obvious, point . But first I need to say that I view everything about Lincoln through rose-tinted glasses.

Political polling these days is notoriously prone to error. In 1864 it would not have been better ! Neither Stanton nor Lincoln could have been certain that the soldier vote would have been in favour of Lincoln. .... they must have had doubts.
I believe , thru my rosey glasses, that both men had a desire to ensure the soldiers could exercise their democratic duty .... and vote .... whichever way they chose.

The quickest way to end the war would have been for Lincoln to lose the election. What soldier wouldn't have been tempted by thoughts of home and peace?

P.S. Missing Laurie too.