On the deck of the USS Carl Vinson, Earvin “Magic” Johnson spoke with reporters about politics. Johnson, who attended Michigan State University for two years, is here as honorary captain of the Spartans in the “Carrier Classic” college basketball game on board the deck of the aircraft carrier.

The Obama supporter attended a Los Angeles fundraiser for the president in October, and said the GOP debates haven’t given him reason to fear for the president’s re-election.

“None of the candidates from the other side are looking good right now,” Johnson said.

Of Herman Cain, Johnson said, “the situation he’s gone through – you can’t recover from that.”

What did he make of Rick Perry’s brain freeze at the debate earlier this week?

“I couldn’t believe that,” he said.

The former Laker confessed he once thought the Texas governor could be President Obama’s biggest threat.

“I thought Rick would do a much better job,” said Johnson. “But every debate he keeps stumbling and stumbling and stumbling.”

“And Romney just seems to never take charge. Right now you’ve got to take charge of America. We need somebody tough and strong. So President Obama is the man right now. And I think that he can lead us.”

-Jake Tapper