Barack Obama announced his candidacy on February 10th at 10:13 am in Springfield Illinois. 

Barack Obama has potential to be president, but his campaign is going to face fierce - and possibly nasty - opposition. If he is able to view such opposition as an opportunity to show his own dignity and strength, he can win even more people over. This announcement places Obama with John Edwards as the top contenders.

Astrology comments - Here's the chart. If fuzzy click again to zoom.

The theme of gaining strength through adversity shows up in a few ways. First and most important, the Sun is in direct opposition to Saturn. Usually Sun contacts to Saturn limit success, but here we have a true mutual reception. The Sun is in a sign of Saturn, and Saturn is in the sign of the Sun; and they are in aspect.  Note that from the traditional perspective, a mutual reception only takes place with a regular aspect (sextile, square, trine or opposition). In terms of how this affects Obama's campaign, it means success only comes with great effort & dignity; and yet it is this very effort in the face of obstacles that makes the top job possible. He can gain even greater respect when people see him face down a challenge like a true leader.

As if the Sun Saturn dynamic weren't already important, the chart highlights the theme with Saturn exactly on the Ascendant by antiscion. Also not normally a positive, the mutual reception again changes the rules of the game. And since Saturn rules the 10th house of the job, landing on the Asc by antiscion is actually a good sign.

The time of the announcement took place day of Saturn, hour of Sun.

The ruler of the Ascendant is Venus conjunct the North node in Pisces. This means Obama gains with a style that simply dismisses the naysayers and other more difficult detractors without giving it too much time or attention, all the while keeping to his own positive view.

Moon in Scorpio in the 7th means that he'll face some ugliness.

However, the 7th house is quite strong in two other ways and this shows potential for an excellent running mate, or that Obama may become the VP on a winning ticket.