Nevertheless, his victory suggests that Lincoln was far from universally hated at this time. If he was truly hated, people would still have voted against him. Would you become a fan of Obama if he were to somehow defeat ISIS? The fall of Atlanta and the ultimate defeat of the Confederate forces was just a matter of time and everyone knew that by mid-1864.
The Democrats in their infinite wisdom in 1864 ran a pro war candidate, McClellan, for President and teamed him up with a rabid copperheed VP. His name escapes me right now.