The wide-open 2008 presidential race is deliciously unpredictable, generating hourly grist for the punditry. But the pundits and polls can divine only so much. For nuance and non sequiturs, we turn to the stars - and we don't mean Oprah, Barbra or Chuck Norris.

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Unlike Internet surveys and TV talking heads, the zodiac addresses a range of variables unseen. New moon in Capricorn? Mars in retrograde? Mercury in direct? Certain planetary configurations, say those who buy into it, can be more decisive or damaging than a spot on YouTube.

Ask South Florida's legendary astrologer and psychic Micki Dahne. She's no political junkie, but she knows her planets. Where the cable news folks see blue states, red states and the occasional purple territories, she sees patches of earth, water, fire and air. Where we may count seven senators, three governors, two congressmen and a mayor, she counts three Leos, three Scorpios, three Geminis, two Virgos, one Pisces and one Libra. Dahne is the woman who ushered psychics and clairvoyants into the pop-culture mainstream in the 1970s.

As the era's "it" psychic, dubbed "amazing" and dispatched on a coast-to-coast tour by National Enquirer. At 76, the Sunny Isles Sagittarius remains active as a psychic detective, matchmaker, and top-dollar telephone astrologer. At the moment, her money's on a particular Scorpio born in 1947. Two other Scorpios and a Gemini have withdrawn since Dahne made her predictions, but their readings are fun, too. Dahne accompanies us on a quick planetary tour of the 2008 hopefuls:

Barack Obama: Leo Born Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu

In good company? The senator from Illinois is a Leo like Bill Clinton, Herbert Hoover and Madonna. (He also shares the sign with Fidel Castro and Benito Mussolini.) Rocket man: The zodiac says he's driven, charismatic, a natural-born leader. According to Jackie Stallone's bestselling astrology guide, Starpower, individuals born in his decan (10 days period) of Leo take to fame and fortune "like a rocket-ship blast." In fact, the tarot card assigned to his day of birth is that of The Emperor. Micki Dahne's reading: "I can see why Oprah went nuts for him," says Dahne of the Democrat who won the Iowa Caucus last week. "He's very strong. He's also a stubborn guy - but he sticks to it. I can tell you this man will always have money ...

"He's fresh and promising, like fresh-picked fruit. But it's all happening so fast for him," she says. "As sweet as he is, he could be confused at times. You know Oprah always takes in confused people."

John Edwards: Gemini Born June 10, 1953, in Seneca, S.C.

Air apparent? The senator from North Carolina, who shares a birthday with Judy Garland, is full of Gemini air - that is, his chart is peppered with the influence of Gemini, an air sign. Geminis are witty, natural communicators, lively, and fun, but they can also be flighty, inconsistent and superficial. After one glance at all that air-sign presence, Dahne gasped in disbelief.

"Are you kidding me?" she mutters to herself. "He's a Gemini with a Gemini moon, a Gemini Mars and a Gemini Jupiter. That's pretty screwed up, zodiac wise."

Micki Dahne's reading: As it happens with Geminis, there's also the "twin self," double-personality matter, symbolized by the sign's icon, the twins. "He's charming, but he can be very controlling," says Dahne, who adds in that random style of psychics: "And I want him to drink a lot more water."

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Scorpio Born Oct. 26, 1947, in Chicago

A very good year: Here is where Dahne lights up. "Every brilliant doctor I know is born Scorpio '47," she says. "She's a fighter. She strong." And, "she's extremely psychic." Clinton's birthday suggests she was born to lead. She shares the day with former French president Francois Mitterrand and the Shah of Iran. Water, water everywhere: While John Edwards is all Gemini air, then Clinton is all Scorpio water: "She's got a Pisces moon. Her mercury is in Scorpio, sun in Scorpio, Venus and Jupiter in Scorpio." Which means the senator from New York and former first lady, like all good Scorpios, can be calculating, jealous, obsessive and secretive. "She keeps a lot of stuff in her head and doesn't let anyone know. And because a Scorpio is characterized by the scorpion, she has to release her poison every now and then."

Micki Dahne's reading: What are her chances of calling the White House home again? "She's got a darn good chance," says Dahne. As for whether or not Clinton will rely too heavily on her husband, Dahne says, "She'll ask questions of Bill. But she's very much a Me-Me-Me woman."

Mike Huckabee: Virgo Born Aug. 24, 1955 in Hope, Ark.

Written in the stars: Internet astrologers predicted Huckabee's victory in Iowa. It was written in the stars: Jupiter, the planet of mind expansion, slid into favorable formation with his sun sign, Virgo - " a very promising sign," wrote Oregon astrologer Michael WolfStar Keeping up the momentum may not prove so easy for the former governor of Arkansas and Baptist pastor, as "transiting Jupiter moves deeper into Capricorn." Micki Dahne's reading: Huckabee has a fighting chance to hang in.

"He's very deep, very analytical, extremely smart - he really is," she says. "He's had trouble with money and getting things done, but that's finished." His potential downfall, however, could be hastened by the fact that he speaks "with a forked tongue," she says. "He could be a great poker player - he's a good bluffer."

Rudy Giuliani: Gemini Born May 28, 1944, in Brooklyn

Yes, the former mayor of New York is a twin-personality Gemini - which could explain the cross-dressing prank some years ago.

"Like all good Geminis, he's two people," says Dahne. Micki Dahne's reading: With his Mercury in Taurus, he's "stubborn as hell," she says.

"But he's very lucky with women -- women adore him. And he's been there a few times, hasn't he?" says Dahne, who's been married eight times. "I can understand it. I love his smile."

Mitt Romney: Pisces Born March 12, 1947 in Detroit

One fish: The former Massachusetts governor is the only Pisces in the pack, sharing a birthday with artists and writers such as Jack Kerouac, Edward Albee and Liza Minnelli. Pisces is the sign of dreamers.

Micki Dahne's reading: "I can tell you he's brilliant." But his chart suggests he's also vulnerable to "unexpected happenings," she says. "He's deeper and more complex than anybody knows," she says. "He's Einstein, Walter Mitty and Mister Magoo all rolled into one."

Dennis Kucinich: Libra Born Oct. 8, 1946, in Cleveland

Scorpio in disguise: The congressman from Ohio, who shares a birthday with the Rev. Jesse Jackson, may be a Libra, but he's got Scorpio all over his chart. "He's got Mercury in Scorpio, Mars in Scorpio, his luck in Scorpio, a lot of Scorpio," says Dahne. Such configurations can translate into resentment and secrecy. (See Hillary Clinton.)

Micki Dahne's reading: Despite Kucinich's claims that he once saw a UFO, the psychic is not overly impressed. "I don't know him, but I don't think I want him as my president," she said. "There's something sneaky about his chart."

Ron Paul: Leo Born Aug. 20, 1935, in Pittsburgh

His own man: The congressman from Texas may be a Leo, but he's an anomaly among his fellow politicians, failing to fall neatly into any ideological category.

Micki Dahne's reading: Internet astrologers say he has all the signs of a natural leader and that the planets are in line to give him a boost in coming weeks. But Dahne doesn't buy it. Her assessment: "He's a balloon in the wind."

Bill Richardson: Scorpio Born Nov. 15, 1947, in Pasadena, Calif.

Two of a kind: Here's another '47 Scorpio, one with a lot of Sagittarius influence, to Dahne's delight. The governor of New Mexico and former U.N. ambassador was born 20 days after his opponent, Hillary Clinton. "I like this guy and I don't even know him. I see his moon's in Sag. The way he loves is in Sag. His luck is in Sag," she gushes. Of course, she's a Sag. "I don't know if he's going to win, but I just know he's got beautiful eyes," she says.

His lion ways: Although Richardson's Mars is in Leo, a traditional sign of leadership and strength, it doesn't mean he's cut out to be president. His Saturn, the planet of limitations, is also sitting in Leo. "He could screw it all up for himself."

Micki Dahne's reading: At this point we asked about the much-speculated Clinton/Richardson ticket - is it a possibility? "He'd be great for her," says Dahne. "He'd let her play her game. They'd be two eagles flying through the air."

Joe Biden: Scorpio Born Nov. 20, 1942, in Scranton, Pa.

Micki Dahne's reading: Although his chances to win the nomination are slim, the senator from Delaware has strong planetary credentials. "This man is very smart and very strong," says Dahne of the candidate who shares a birthday with the late Bobby Kennedy.

Christopher Dodd: Gemini Born May 27, 1944, in Willimantic, Conn.

Cauled to lead? According to published reports, Dodd was born with a filmy caul on his face formed by amniotic remnants, something his Irish family took to mean he was destined for greatness.

Micki Dahne's reading: Despite that and his Leo moon in Mars and Jupiter - suggesting strong leadership qualities - Dahne doesn't believe the Connecticut senator will find it in the White House. "He's not going anywhere in this race," she says.

John McCain: Virgo Born Aug. 29, 1936, at the Coco Solo U.S. Naval Base in the Panama Canal Zone.

In good company? The senator from Arizona loves poetry and music, and it's no wonder. He was born on the same day as jazzman Charlie "Bird" Parker, singer Dinah Washington - and, well, there's also Michael Jackson.

Micki Dahne's reading: "He's very talented and very smart," says Dahne. "But it can take him time to make up his mind. I'd get him a T-shirt that says, 'On the other hand.' "I don't see anything happening there. His Saturn has Uranus sitting all over him."

Fred Thompson: Leo Born Aug. 19, 1942, in Sheffield, Ala.

Micki Dahne's reading: The former senator from Tennessee shares a birthday with Bill Clinton, but does he share his presidential fate? Not so much, says Dahne. "He's analytical and decisive," she says. "But what's he doing there? Go back to Law and Order."