TERRY LEWIS: What now for Stacey Abrams?

As word began to filter out last week that former Georgia House Minority leader and erstwhile Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams had been asked to give her party’s response to President Trump’s delayed State of the Union address on Tuesday night, the reaction I got from most people was similar.

“What? You have to be kidding me.”

However, there is a reason behind the sudden flurry of activity surrounding Abrams, who lost the governor’s mansion by a mere 55,000 votes to Gov. Brian Kemp. Her recent launching of a “Thank You Tour” across the state kept her name and face in the media and also delivered a message that she was not ready to get out of politics.

Kemp won more votes than any Georgia gubernatorial contender in history, while Abrams earned more than any Democratic candidate ever.

Abrams has never conceded the race, instead she just acknowledged Kemp’s victory.

“I will not concede,” Abrams said when it became clear she didn’t have the numbers to force a runoff, “because the erosion of our democracy is not right. So, let’s be clear. This is not a speech of concession. Because concession means to acknowledge an action is right, true or proper. As a woman of conscience and faith, I cannot concede that. But my assessment is the law currently allows no further viable remedy.”

I’d like to say that remark got the ball rolling toward bigger and better things, but in reality, the ball never stopped rolling. Before the Thank You Tour began, Abrams created the “Fair Fight Action” PAC that is calling for voting reform in Georgia. That also kept her name and face in the spotlight.

In politics, the word “coincidence” does not exist. Her narrow loss, and speaking eloquence, have been noted higher up the Democratic food chain.

The opportunity to deliver the Democratic response to Trump’s SOTU address is the first time since 1966 that a non-elected representative has been given the opportunity to deliver the opposition response.

To add a little more spice to the mix, Fair Fight has purchased a 30-second ad spot to run during Sunday’s Super Bowl, with Abrams as the centerpiece. The ad will target Georgia and will run Sunday in Columbus, Macon, Augusta, Savannah and Albany — all south Georgia markets.

Two days later, Abrams will deliver the Democratic response to Trump’s SOTU address.

It doesn’t take a political genius to connect the dots — the DNC and Stacey Abrams are going after Republican U.S. Senator David Perdue’s seat in 2020.

Democrats are hungry for their first Senate win since Zell Miller retired in 2004, and it’s becoming increasingly obvious that the party sees Abrams as a rising star and best chance to turn Georgia into a truly purple state.

Abrams spent $40 million in her loss to Kemp, which she blamed on voting irregularities and voter suppression. That’s a message that resonates with the rank and file voter. Odds are Democrats will equal that spending if not spend more to gain a blue senate seat in Georgia.

According to his website, Perdue is the only Fortune 500 CEO in Congress and has more than 40 years of business experience as the former CEO of Reebok athletic brand and Dollar General stores. His net worth is estimated at nearly $16 million. He will also be well-funded by Republicans and the RNCC.

After losing to Kemp, Abrams is likely looking at this run as possibly her last bite of the apple. She has said she will announce her decision next month.

Right now the only certainty is if she does challenge Perdue, the campaign will be brutal and it will be costly.

Email Terry Lewis at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ABH_Lewis.