Campaign Trail Goddesses

Michelle Obama vs. Cindy McCain

The differences in style and personality between First Lady contenders Michelle Obama and Cindy McCain is well publicized. Obama is an outspoken public speaker, while McCain is much more reserved on the campaign trail. However, their charts reveal they have some surprising things in common. Both have powerful Earth (practicality) and Air (intellect) elements in their charts, which indicate their characters and motivations are actually quite similar. So let's take a closer look at the inner worlds of these two powerful women.

Cindy McCain
Born on May 20, 1954, Cindy McCain is a Taurus, which makes her a pragmatic Earth sign like Michelle. As a bull, Cindy is intensely loyal, sensual and stubborn. Values and security are priorities for her. She certainly found a good match in her husband, presidential candidate Senator John McCain, who has Sun in Virgo and Moon in Capricorn. The couple married in 1980 and have four children together, one of whom is adopted.

Depending on her time of birth, Cindy has Moon in either Sagittarius or Capricorn. The former would give her an adventurous, idealistic side, while the latter would heighten her talent for business. Cindy is the Chair of Hensley and Co, one of the largest Anheuser-Busch beer distributors, which was founded by her father. She's also a philanthropist, having founded the American Voluntary Medical Team to aid in disasters abroad. She also founded the Hensley Family Foundation to aid in children's programs.

Which brings us to her Air influences, the focus of her intelligence. Cindy has Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in Gemini. Although not as progressive as Michelle, with her Aquarius planets, the Gemini threesome gives Cindy a clear-thinking, logical mind and more adaptability than the usual Taurus. She has a love of literature and travel. In romance, she's a bit of a flirt and needs clear communications with her partner. And with Neptune trine Venus and Jupiter, she has a compassionate side that she shares with Michelle. The Gemini-Neptune connections inspired Cindy to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Education and a Masters in Special Education from the University of Southern California. She has worked as a teacher for children with Down syndrome and other disabilities.

One remarkable outcome of the Gemini influences was their help in Cindy's recovery from a stroke in 2004. She has nearly made a full recovery expect for some short-term memory loss. Her recovery would have been much harder without such clear-thinking, adaptable Gemini planets at her disposal. Another challenge that Cindy overcame was a three-year addiction to pain killers, which were initially used to alleviate pain from two spinal surgeries. Her strong and determined Taurus Sun gave her the will to get off - and stay off - drugs.

All said, Cindy McCain would make a stylish and down-to-earth First Lady, who would prefer to quietly share her strengths and ideas with those who rely on her.

Michelle Obama
The wife of presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama is an intriguing combination of traditional and progressive. Born on January 17, 1964, she has Sun and Mercury in Capricorn, indicating she's upstanding, ambitious and grounded, with a no-nonsense personality. She certainly brings her fiery Leo husband back down to earth. And although being a mom to their two daughters is first on her list of priorities, she's also a career woman. She currently works part time as Vice President of Community and External Affairs for the University of Chicago Hospitals.

But besides being organized and practical, Michelle is analytical, inventive and original. That's because Mercury, the planet of brainpower, is trine brilliant Uranus and insightful Pluto, which helped her earn a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Princeton University and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Plus, Mercury square Jupiter in Aries gives her an adventurous side and the ability to see the bigger picture.

As for being progressive, two of her main motivators are Mars and Saturn in futuristic Aquarius, the sign that rules change and activism. Obama is known to be outspoken about the rights of minorities and women. Moreover, she may have Moon in Aquarius as well, depending on her time of birth, which would heighten her social consciousness (or she may have Moon in sensitive, intuitive Pisces). The Aquarius energy appears to have inspired much of her work. Michelle is the former Executive Director for the Chicago Office of Public Allies, which encourages young people to work for nonprofit groups and government agencies that address social issues. More recently, she developed the University of Chicago's Community Service Center during her stint as Associate Dean of Student Services.

Not surprising, Michelle shares this progressive streak with her husband. He has ascendant in Aquarius, which certainly inspired his campaign slogan, "Change we can believe in." This couple would work well together toward social reform in the White House.

In the romance arena, Michelle has Venus, the planet of love, in Pisces. This influence says she's empathic and trusting in relationships. She certainly feels for others who are in need. All in all, Michelle Obama would be a capable First Lady who may view the limelight as a necessary evil, but who would rise to the task of being a role model of strength, equality and compassion.

In either case, the United States will have a class female act in the White House, and hopefully enjoy a First Lady who will be far more involved, results oriented and compassionately outspoken than the current First Lady, Laura Bush.