Wednesday’s GOP debate on CNBC is underway with the focus on the economy.  All eyes were on Herman Cain as the audience waited to see whether or not the candidates, or Cain himself, addressed the recent sexual harassment allegations against the business.

The allegations were brought up about 15 minutes into the debate, but only after Mitt Romney faced a question about his character.  Moderator John Harwood asked the former-Massachusetts governor about his record of flip-flopping, particularly on the big 3 auto bailout.

Romney maintained that he did not flip-flop on the bailout, saying he was always against the government bailout of the auto industry, preferring instead to have the private sector deal with the issue.

Romney tried to establish himself as the candidate the American people can trust.

“I think people know be pretty well. I’m a man of steadiness and constancy, I’ve been married to the same woman or 42 years, been a member of the same church my whole life.  I worked at one company, Bain Capital for 25 and I only left to help run the Olympics,” Romney said.

The question on Cain’s character came next.  When asked whether the country should hire someone with sexual harassment allegations to be their president, Cain responded as follows: “The American people deserve better than someone being tried in the court of pubic opinion based on unfounded allegations.”  He added, “over the last nine days the voters have voted with their knowledge and they say they don’t care about the character assassination, they care about growing this economy.”

Romney was asked whether he would hire someone facing the same allegations as those faced by Cain. Once the boos in the crowd subsided, Romney said that Herman Cain was the person who should respond to that question and that he just had.

“The people in this room and across the country can make their own decisions,” Romney answered.