'64 Election Meddling an Option?

[Southern Volunteer]

So as a disclaimer I'm not well versed at all on the intricacies of the '64 election. I pretty much stopped at where Burns left off. However I have had this discussion with one other person about Lincoln and his decision and insistence that even in the midst of a Civil War that the nation must go through with the presidential election. I've noticed that Lincoln ensuring it went through despite his initial unpopularity is praised as a gallant and principled choice as though postponing the election or delaying it or cancelling it was an option that Lincoln actually had say akin to suspending habeus corpus. Was it?

Practically speaking, I feel as though if Lincoln had tried to interfere with the election, especially before Sherman's successes in Georgia that there's no way the nation would have went along with it. I'm inclined to believe that he would have been deposed either by coup, impeachment, mass desertion from the army, some states turning on him, etc. And that being said, going through with the election may not have been that hard a decision. So my questions for people who know Lincoln and the political situation better are,

Was not going through with or significantly modifying the '64 election a feasible political choice for Lincoln?
If yes, does anyone think or have evidence he considered it at all? Or even if possible would he never have flirted with it?
If no, does anyone think or have evidence that had it been possible that he may have done it?
Does the answer to this question affect your opinion at all on how we should view Lincoln honoring the election process?

 

[Lubliner]

A slippery subject. I have no actual evidence, though I believe some will deliver up that Lincoln was 'never tempted' or 'would never attempt' such a brash move. This is my belief, that he was committed to uphold the Union, and preserve the laws the nation was founded upon.
Lubliner.

 

[wbull1]

I haven't read anything that suggests Lincoln considered trying to interfere with the election process. I believe there would have been a violent reaction if he had. It's not especially praiseworthy. However, I often cite it as a counter to the claim he was a "tyrant." Lincoln was prepared to lose without contesting the process of democracy.

 

[Carronade]

Lincoln even thought he might lose the election at one point, as shown by the note he asked the Cabinet to sign, sight unseen:

"This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this Administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so co-operate with the President elect, as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterward."

He not only thought he might lose, he believed that his successor would likely lose the war and the Union, yet there is still no indication that he considered not holding the election.