THE WHITE HOUSE

By Karen Tumulty/Washington

The search goes on. ERSKINE BOWLES, the third man to serve as chief of staff in the Clinton White House, is so eager to leave that he has done everything but pack his bags. The problem for Clinton is figuring out who could replace him.

Scratch one leading candidate. Budget Director FRANKLIN RAINES, who won many fans during his handling of the budget negotiations and who might have given Clinton the distinction of appointing the first black to the post, has let it be known to Bowles and others that he is not interested. Raines maintains that he wants more time with his three young daughters, though others speculate his real interest is in becoming Treasury Secretary, should Robert Rubin vacate that job.

That leaves an even shorter short list. The betting is on former Commerce Secretary and Trade Representative MICKEY KANTOR, who was disappointed when he didn't get the job in the first place. Also in the running are JOHN HILLEY, Clinton's point man on dealing with Capitol Hill, and National Security Adviser SANDY BERGER. But White House handicappers speculate that Hilley may have too many enemies in the White House and on the Hill, and Berger's chances suffer because he took over at the N.S.C. just a few months ago.

--By Karen Tumulty/Washington