Symantec Chief Leading Candidate for Commerce Secretary

Software company president John Thompson is the top candidate for U.S. commerce secretary, a senior Democratic official confirmed to FOX News.

If chosen, Thompson, chairman and chief executive of Symantec Corp, would fill the last slot in President Obama's Cabinet.

The Democratic official told FOX News that it is not clear when an announcement will happen, but the official believes it will come soon, suggesting it could be used as a catalyst to move Obama's economic recovery plan.

At a White House briefing Tuesday, Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs said Thompson is just one of the names under consideration and that no decision has been made.

Symantec is the No. 1 software security company, best known to consumers for its Norton product line.

FOX News' Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.