Time Is Short For Final Four

The presidential races are heating up, and in just four weeks they'll probably all be over. So there's great urgency this week, reports CBS News White House correspondent Bill Plante.

As Democrats look toward Super Tuesday on March 7 - with its thirteen state primaries to include New York and California - the Republicans are focusing on South Carolina, where insurgent John McCain will learn whether he's got a legitmate shot at one of recent history's most dramatic political upsets.

Fully aware that he's no longer going to skip to the nomination, George W. Bush's campaign says it has not yet begun the fight.

"We've got to show that Gov. Bush can pick himself up off the mat, dust off the blood and get in there and fight hard for the nomination," top Bush strategist Karl Rove says.

For his part, McCain seems to relish the fact that he's getting heavy criticism, even though most of it is coming from his own party.

"Everybody's attacking," the Arizona Senator says. "I'm like Luke Skywalker trying to get thought the Death Star and we're going to do it, but the fire's getting intense, it's coming from all sides, and I'm loving every minute of it."

Meanwhile, Democrat Bill Bradley admits that, if he doesn't walk away with a big state such as New York, California, or Ohio on March 7, then he doesn't stand much of a chance.

Nevertheless, the former New Jersey Senator says he likes his chances.

"The real differences that exist between Al Gore and me on some of the key issues - particularly health care and gun control - will create an environment here we're going to turn it around," he said.

Of course, reports Plante, the biggest show of the weekend took place in Purchase, New York, where the first lady became the first candidate. But that race will go on for the next six months, while the White House time clock is ticking much, much faster.