 The deep division in the party , the unity of the Republicans ( running under the label " National Union Party " ) , and the military successes by Union forces in the fall of 1864 doomed McClellan 's candidacy . Lincoln won the election handily , with 212 Electoral College votes to 21 and a popular vote of 2 @,@ 218 @,@ 388 to 1 @,@ 812 @,@ 807 or 55 % to 45 % . For all his popularity with the troops , McClellan failed to secure their support and the military vote went to Lincoln nearly 3 – 1 . Lincoln 's share of the vote in the Army of the Potomac was 70 % . 
