Paul, Romney respond to tax deal

Rep. Ron Paul, reacting to Thursday's payroll tax deal, said it would "sort of settle things for a while," but doesn't address the broader fiscal issues he thinks need to be more urgently dealt with.

"I don't think they are facing up to the truth," the Texas congressman said of Congress and the Obama administration. "The truth of the matter we are bankrupt. They are not solving the problems. They have to finally admit that there is something seriously wrong."

Mitt Romney, meanwhile, told reporters in Conway, N.H.: "I certainly hope we've seen resolution of that - it's probably a little early to predict that right now. But I trust it's going to get done. Hope it gets done soon."