Stacy Abrams. Bright. Always prepared. Clear on the issues.

[essme]

60. While Arkansas is not huge it was #33 in 1990. Low middle of the pack.

Like it or not being a governor in just about any state is a pretty big deal. It is considered a qualifier for President (rightly or wrongly). Even Wyoming which was #50 in 1990 would be a boost.

Here is a really cool list of past experiences before becoming president (being a Governor is #1):

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/which-offices-are-good-stepping-stones-to-the-presidency/

Here is a neat list showing all past experiences (seems like a law degree, state governors, military, and senators really have a leg up with some crossover):

26 presidents were previously lawyers.
22 presidents had previous military experience; 9 were generals in the US Army.[a]
18 presidents previously served as U.S. representatives; 6 of 18 held this office prior to the four 'previous positions' shown in this table. Only one – James A. Garfield – was a Representative immediately before election as president. Only John Quincy Adams served as a U.S. representative after being president. Additionally, after being president, John Tyler served in the Provisional Confederate Congress and was later elected to the Confederate House of Representatives, but he died before taking his seat.[2]
17 presidents previously served as governors; 16 were state governors; 9 were governors immediately before election as president. One, William Howard Taft, served as a territorial governor. One, Andrew Jackson, served as a military governor (Florida).
16 presidents previously served as U.S. senators; only 3 immediately before election as president. Only one president, Andrew Johnson, served as a U.S. senator after his presidency.
14 presidents previously served as vice president. All except Richard Nixon were vice presidents immediately before becoming president; 9 of the 14 succeeded to the presidency because of the death or resignation of the elected president; 5 of those 9 were not re-elected.
8 presidents were out of office (for at least one year) immediately before election as president.
8 presidents previously served as Cabinet secretaries; 6 as secretary of state; 5 of the 8 served immediately before election as president.
7 presidents had previous experience in foreign service.

5 presidents had never been elected to public office before becoming president: Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S. Grant, Herbert Hoover, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Donald Trump. Most of these had, however, been appointed to several prominent offices. Hoover's contributions toward the Treaty of Versailles preceded his appointment as United States secretary of commerce. Taylor, Grant and Eisenhower led U.S. forces to victory in the Mexican–American War, American Civil War and World War II, respectively – each occupying the highest-ranking command post of their time. Trump is the group's sole exception, having never held any public office nor any military position.

4 presidents taught at a university: James A. Garfield, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, and Barack Obama.
2 presidents served as party leaders of the House of Representatives, James A. Garfield and Gerald Ford.
1 president served as an ordained minister, serving as a pastor in the Disciples of Christ (Christian) Church. James A. Garfield. [3] [4]
1 president served as speaker of the House of Representatives, James K. Polk.
1 president served as president pro tempore of the United States Senate, John Tyler.
1 president served as party leader of the United States Senate, Lyndon B. Johnson.
1 president served as president of the United States for two non-consecutive terms, Grover Cleveland.

It matters. Abrams was robbed (99%) or close to it. She should be Georgia's Governor now but she isn't.