brian moahr, nbc news. >>> so who woke up this morning a winner from last night's debate? david gregory joined us earlier this morning and said newt gingrich solidified his status as the gop front-runner. i must say he came out very strong from this debate. there will be a lot of of questions but also questions for mitt romney and for ron paul, who i have on the program this morning who was going after gingrich pretty hard. >> davide sits down with texas congressman and presidential candidate ron paul 10:30 here on nbc 4. >>> meanwhile, mitt romney continues to pick up big endorsements in new hampshire. manchester mayor ted gatsus says he's endorsing the former governor. he said, mitt is the strongest republican candidate with the best organization to take on president obama in 2012. romney also received the support of other prominent new hampshire politicians, including the state senate president. voters go to the polls in the granite state january 10th. >>> when we're talking about the weather today, we're saying dress in layers. >> yes. >> smart way to go. >> especially

brian moahr, nbc, washington. >> it will cost a little bit more for new homeowners. starting january 1st, home buyers will have to pay roughly $17 more a month for the mortgage. as part of the deal, fannie mae and freddie mac are increasing the price they charge to insure home mortgages. the slight rise in costs does not apply to those who already have a mortgage but would apply to those looking to refinance next year. >>> the payroll tax plan may have easily passed the senate, but the fight is far from over. nbc's david gregory told us early this morning that the deal which extends the tax rates for another two months only kicks a can down the road. this is an agreement to extend the payroll tax cut holiday. even house republicans are revolting about that. with a conference call yesterday. it's not clear that this is a done deal. >>> gregory said the issue of how to pay for the tax cut will still be there in february if this extension plan makes it that far. officials told him the move will likely force the president not to issue a permit for the project. be sure to

brian moahr has our report from capitol hill now. >> reporter: in a rare saturday session the u.s. senate approved a 60-day extension of the payroll tax cut. >> on this vote the ayes are 89 neys are 10. >> reporter: it ensures 160 million people won't see their paycheck shrink on january 1st. but it sets the stage for another showdown early next year. >> it will be inexcusable for them not to extend this for the rest of the year. >> reporter: democrats had to give up on tax increases for millionaires, but they got an extension of unemployment benefits. >> it was true legislation because it was compromise. >> reporter: republicans succeeded in pushing the president to say yes or no to the keystone oil pipeline project within the next 60 days. >> everybody in washington says they want more american jobs right now. but here's the single largest shovel-ready project in america. >> reporter: before heading home for the holidays, the senate voted to pay for last year's natural disasters and approved a big spending bill to keep the ghost running through fiscal year 2012. not everyone was

brian moahr, nbc news. >>> so who woke up this morning a winner from last night's debate?d us earlier and said newt gingrich solidified his status as the gop front-runner. i must say he came out very strong from this debate. there will be a lot of of questions but also questions for mitt romney and for ron paul, that's the point, that gingrich came out of the contest last night still very much number one. >> be sure to tune to to "meet the press" as he sits down with republican candidate ron paul, 10:30, right here on nbc 4. >>> right now officials are closing streets along the national mall for a major road race. the jingle all the way 8k. last year a few thousand runners registered to run the 4.9 miles. this year's course begins on constitution avenue near 12th street. runners will head towards columbus circle, then go towards third street, and down e street. those headed toward the national mall are urged to take metrobuses and trains. several streets will be blocked off until noon. >>> drivers can see a 20-year tradition continued when they pass arlington national ceme