THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, July 16, 1994                TAG: 9407160260
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT 
DATELINE: RALEIGH                            LENGTH: Short :   26 lines

PERDUE SAYS SHE ISN'T OFFENDED BY ``DUMPLING''

Senate leader Marc Basnight of Manteo raised some eyebrows Friday when he called a female colleague ``dumpling'' while he was presiding over the chamber.

Sen. Beverly Perdue, D-Craven, was away from her seat but she raised her hand to be recognized when a vote was called. Basnight acknowledged her presence by calling her ``dumpling.''

Later, Basnight said ``dumpling'' is his nickname for Perdue, and that he used the word deliberately to encourage her to return to her seat.

``I knew it wouldn't be offensive to Beverly at all,'' he said. ``You ought to hear what she calls me.''

Perdue said she was not offended because she considers all her male colleagues in the Senate to be big brothers. by CNB