NEW ORLEANS (AP) — President Barack Obama will likely be re-elected for a second term, the world will not end on Dec. 21, and the economy will look rosier by 2015 — at least that’s according to a group of the world’s leading astrologers who are gathering in New Orleans.

Roughly 1,500 astrologers from more than 30 countries have converged at a Canal Street hotel bordering the French Quarter for the United Astrology Conference, where they will discuss planetary alignments and the role the solar system has in such matters as the economy and upcoming U.S. presidential race.

One prediction: Because Mercury, the planet of communication, tabulation and transportation, goes retrograde on Nov. 6 — election day — chaos similar to the 2000 election and notorious “hanging chads” can be expected.

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