POLITICAL BRIEFING

GUESSING GAP: It’s a measure of the pessimism among Republicans that there has been little speculation over who might be President Bush’s secretary of state in a second term. . . . White House Chief of Staff James A. Baker III, pried away from the top diplomat’s job this summer, was tabbed last week by Bush to be “economic coordinator” should the President win reelection. Baker’s replacement at state, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, has said he plans to retire in January, no matter what happens in November. . . . Names tossed around for the post include Defense Secretary Dick Cheney, National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft and Sen. Richard G. Lugar (R-Ind.). But even Administration officials admit to being more interested in whom Democratic presidential nominee Bill Clinton might name.