SAN FRANCISCO: With a personal fortune estimated at $1.85 billion, Penny Pritzker was nominated by President Barack Obama on Thursday to join his economic team as Commerce Secretary, the White House said. Pritzker joins economic adviser Mike Froman, who was nominated for trade representative, as the latest moves being made by Obama in an effort to shore up fears the American economy is hitting a downturn after months of positives. The Senate must confirm both nominees. Two administration officials confirmed the Pritzker and Froman nominations, speaking on condition of anonymity so as not to pre-empt Obama's formal announcement Thursday morning. Obama makes the nominations before departing on a three-day business trip to Mexico and Costa Rica. Pritzker, who raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Obama's two presidential campaigns, is on the board of Hyatt Hotels Corp. She is listed among the 300 wealthiest Americans by Forbes magazine. BN