2. Why did Lincoln need the support of the border states?

Freeing the slaves in the border states might have cost Lincoln the support of the border states

or it might be

he wanted the border states to take the lead by adopting some form of gradual emancipation funded by the federal government

From Kentucky Southern Armies could strike all the Union States along the Ohio River ... Freeing the slaves in the border states might have cost Lincoln the support of the border states. As important as freeing the slaves was to Lincoln the support of the border states was more important to the war effort.