DEMS' CHAIRMAN GOING, GOING . . .

The White House says Democratic National Committee chairman David Wilhelm wasn't fired but admits that new chief of staff Leon Panetta wanted to shore up the party leadership after a string of Democratic losses since 1993. In an increasingly regular pattern in the Clinton White House, old friend Wilhelm will stay on as chairman until after the November elections, while former House majority whip and current Wall Street powerhouse Tony Coelho will step in as a senior adviser. Coelho, who resigned in 1989 amid accusations he improperly mixed politics and finance, will keep his investment-banking job while advising the White House.