More than half of Democratic senators gave to Beverly Perdue.

According to campaign finance reports, 18 of the 31 state senators from the gubernatorial nominee's party have made donations to her since her re-election in 2004. They range from $250 to several thousand dollars.

In all, she received $33,210 from Democratic senators.

The donations are significant because as lieutenant governor, Perdue runs the state Senate. Among North Carolina Democrats, state senators have seen her in action the most.

Most gave from their campaign committees. 

The biggest donor was Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand, who gave a total of $8,000. Sen. Dan Clodfelter gave $4,500, Sen. Clark Jenkins gave $4,000, Sens. Julia Boseman and Linda Garrou gave $3,000, and Sen. William Purcell gave $2,000.

More after the jump.

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Janet Cowell raised $210,260 by the end of 2007.

The Democratic candidate for state treasurer raised $187,222 from major donors, including state Sen. Martin Nesbitt, Public Policy Polling owner Dean Debnam, political consultant Brad Crone and Capitol Broadcasting owner James Goodmon.

She also raised $16,608 from donors who gave less than $50, and $6,430 from political action committees, including Wal-Mart's PAC, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina and state Sen. William Purcell's campaign, according to a campaign finance report filed with the State Board of Elections last week.

At the same time, she spent $69,354 on consulting, database software and staff salaries.

That left her with cash on hand of $137,396.

Mixed martial arts could come to North Carolina.

The Senate unanimously passed a bill today that allows mixed martial arts matches, once the Alcohol Law Enforcement division of the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety come up with regulations for them.

The sport uses techniques from different traditions of martial arts, boxing and wrestling. Its godfather is Bruce Lee, who came up with a system called Jeet Kune Do in the 1960s.

Sen. Katie Dorsett, a Greensboro Democrat, said that the matches are "a new sport" popular in the military that "provides not only fun but fitness as well."

One colleague said the bill made him nervous.

"I'm kind of reluctant to even question this bill," joked Sen. William Purcell, "having seen this guy at the Finance committee the other day who could probably take care of five or six of us at one time."

The bill heads back to the House for concurrence.

Correction: An earlier post had an incorrect home town for Dorsett.