I think you hit the nail on the head with this statement;
“Interesting to see so many conservatives supporting such a leftie so strongly. Perhaps it’s because he’s so iconic and has been made into such a larger-than-life mythic figure.”
I can tell you that being born and raised in Illinois Lincoln was/is viewed as a god by many. The reverence and respect fostered in the children growing up there is obvious, and over-the-top.
As I explained to my oldest the other day here is a very over-simplified version of the Civil War as taught to me in Illinois’ public schools: Lincoln is the greatest President to have ever lived, the Civil War was completely and totally about those “ignorant racist Southerners” who ALL wanted to own black people, Lincoln freed ALL of them, and everyone was happy (except those who still to this day wish they owned slaves).
Not surprisingly, in my experience that is exactly the approach to teaching the Civil War in Minnesota public schools as well.
I took the time to read through this entire thread and have learned .... I have a lot of reading to do.
Besides fishing, I think I found a summer project :)