The American Presidential Election is upon us. November 4th will reveal who the next president of the US will be for the coming four years. In this article, I will endeavor to analyze the birth charts of the two candidates, John McCain and Barack Obama, and offer an indication of who is likely to be the winner according to Vedic astrological calculation.

John McCain

I have not been able to locate John McCain’s birth certificate. His birth details are given as August 29, 1936, at 9 am. Though I cannot confirm this time as being accurate, the events of his life seem to fit with this chart for the most part.

McCain has Mercury exalted in Virgo on his Ascendant. This is a very powerful position, indicating a career of great success and prominence. He will inevitably rise up to positions of power, authority and achievement without too much difficulty. Further, he will distinguish himself in these positions through his efforts and authority. Exalted Mercury means he is an excellent communicator. He has a way of winning people over and influencing them through his words. Though not a great public speaker, he is able to generate consensus among opposing parties and deliver bills and legislation that actually become law. As you probably know, this is a rare achievement in the US Congress!

The major period of Mercury begins for McCain on May 2, 2009 and runs for the next 17 years. Overall, this should be the most effective and successful period of his life thus far. If he becomes president, he would be in a tremendous period of karmic success and accomplishment, which would most certainly benefit the nation. If he doesn’t win the election, he will still remain an effective senator with even more power and prestige than he currently enjoys.

McCain has his Sun in Leo at birth. This is a sign of kingship, power and position. He gravitates toward positions of management and authority. He feels he belongs in such positions and his standards, performance and expectations would be higher than that of most other people. He would have strong convictions and beliefs and would be a hard man to dissuade from his principles and resolve.

However, the Sun in the 12th house in the chart indicates an inherent weakness regarding his ability to be an effective manager. He will, at times, feel insufficient, inadequate and insecure. He will question his own direction and self-worth. This is primarily due to a lack of validation from the father figure in childhood.

Interestingly, this is the exact position of Bill Clinton’s Sun in his birth chart — Sun in Leo in the 12th house. Sun in the 12th house does not necessarily result in effective management ability. This is not the sign of a take-charge person. He will waffle and prove indecisive at times. Instead of leading, he will first want to see which way the wind is blowing regarding voter opinion. Then he will likely choose the road down which the most favorable voter winds are blowing. You may find it fascinating to know that Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, the current president, also have Sun in the 12th house in their birth charts, but in different signs. It should be obvious that those two provided little or no leadership and that their management styles are more an example of what not to do. Isn’t it curious that the US has had so many presidents with Sun in the 12th house? Very little true leadership from such persons.

McCain has Mars in the 11th house in Cancer. This gives him a strong warrior nature which he clearly had as a military pilot and POW. However, since Mars is debilitated in Cancer, he has a tendency to lose his temper or overreact at times to people and circumstances. Not a great position for tact and diplomacy.

McCain has a really strong Saturn placed in its own sign of Aquarius. Saturn is the planet of longevity and life span. People are worried about McCain dying in office and Sarah Palin taking over. It doesn’t seem likely that this will happen. He has a really long life according to his chart. Therefore, I think he will easily finish his term if elected.

If he becomes president, he will find that his greatest challenges and difficulties will arise in his Mercury Ketu period from September 2011 until September 2012. It shares similarities with his Rahu Ketu period in 1967 when he was shot down over Hanoi during the Viet Nam war and broke both arms and both legs. Following this, he became a POW. I obviously don’t expect him to be shot down again but he would encounter strong congressional and political opposition at that time.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama’s birth certificate is available online and the chart seems very accurate according to the events of his life. With Saturn on the Ascendant in Capricorn, it is indicated that he may be tall and thin. He is also a man marked for destiny. Abraham Lincoln also had Saturn on the Ascendant but in the sign of Scorpio. Also, a man of destiny. Clearly, if Obama is elected president, he would be considered to be the first black president of the US and a man of destiny. I wonder why they refer to him as black since he is actually mulatto, half black and half white? He is never regarded as white. I guess it is all about perception, after all.

Along with Saturn on his Ascendant, Obama also has Jupiter. This combination indicates a very wise man, a soul who has a more developed consciousness and awareness. He often speaks words laden with great insight and import.

However, Jupiter is debilitated or in its weakest position in the sign of Capricorn. And it is also considered to be afflicted in a negative manner by the proximity of Saturn. Since Jupiter represents finances and economic management, this does not bode well for his ability to run the economy in an effective or stable manner. There will be many ups and downs economically under his management.

Obama’s Sun sign is Cancer and the Sun is placed in the 7th house of the chart. This is a neutral position for the Sun, neither strong nor weak. But from the Moon position, we find the Sun in the 3rd house, which is very strong for leadership. So, I think he will be a capable and competent leader. It is certainly much better than Sun in the 12th house. Cancer gives him great compassion and empathy for people and their circumstances. He can truly “feel” for people. Sun in Cancer is mild and gentle which means he is likely not to overreach out of ego and the need for control, which is something Clinton did repeatedly with Sun in Leo. Obama’s concern is for the people, not himself. Having the Sun in the 7th house, the house of marriage, shows us clearly who rules the roost in the marriage — and it isn’t him. This indicates that his wife is very capable, competent and somewhat overbearing.

Obama also has exalted Moon in Taurus. This makes him a real populist and highly popular with the people. It is all about the people as far as he is concerned. Moon in Taurus is largely the source of his magnetism and charisma.

Obama’s current planetary period is major Jupiter and minor Moon. His exalted Moon in Taurus is in his 5th house, a house of victory and political achievement. He is in a very strong position to win the election and is clearly ahead in the polls at the time of this writing. John McCain’s current planetary period is major Saturn and minor Jupiter. Though also a strong period for him, it doesn’t appear quite as strong as Obama’s exalted Moon in Taurus minor period.

Now for the most compelling observation. We all know what is happening to the economy and financial institutions at present. I have written about this but with reference to 2009. You can read this article entitled, “2009 — The Gathering Clouds,” on my website at Planetary Events. It appears that we are in for some really difficult times, economically and financially. If this is the case, then it is most likely to show up in the new president’s birth chart because he is the guy that is going to have to deal with it. The responsibility and subsequent blame for the misery and malaise will fall upon his shoulders. Barack Obama is about to go into 3 ½ years of two of the most difficult planetary periods of his life. His Jupiter Mars period will run from March 2009 until February 2010. This will be followed by his Jupiter Rahu period, which will run from February 2010 until July 2012.

Both Mars and Rahu are placed in Obama’s 8th house in his birth chart. This is the house of obstacles, difficulties, reversals, failures and death. Mars is situated at 29 degrees of Leo on the cusp of the sign, which further weakens the planet and brings out his more negative traits. Mars rules his 11th house, the house of profit, income, success and achievement. Along with Rahu, Mars aspects his 2nd house, the house of accumulated wealth and financial success. These negative influences from such naturally malevolent planets do not bode well for his ability to deftly handle or turn around a dismal economic outlook. But they do tend to point to his winning the election because that is what he is likely to face if he becomes president. McCain, on the other hand, is going into such a powerful and positive period that it does not seem to truly reflect what is unfolding in America for the coming president.

Further, there was already an attempt on Obama’s life when three white supremacists armed with rifles and bullet-proof vests tried to get into the Democratic Convention in Denver and ostensibly remove Obama from the picture. Many such people cannot conceive of sharing a restaurant with black people, let alone having a black man at the head of their nation. The Jupiter Mars period as well as the Jupiter Rahu period both indicate real danger for Obama. The tangible possibility of another attempt on his life cannot be ruled out at that time.

In conclusion, it seems once again we have candidates who have some religious affiliation but no real spirituality. The sea change in politics and government that the people want and are always hoping for can only ever arrive with the advent of a truly spiritual and enlightened leader, an initiated soul. Once again, I do not think this is truly available in this latest election cycle. So, it will likely turn out to be partisan politics as usual.