Brown and Whitman squared off at the Women's Conference

In the race for California Governor, Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman squared off at the Women's Conference in southern California. The event attracted many of the world's most influential women.

Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown may have faced one of the toughest questions in the governor's race -- would they each pledge to pull their negative campaign ads in the final week before the election?

Jerry Brown: "If Meg wants to do that -- I'll be glad to have discussion today and I'd be glad to work something out."

Meg Whitman: "I will take down any ads that could even be remotely construed as a personal attack but I don't think we can take down the ads that talk about where governor Brown stands on the issues ... I just think it's not the right thing to do.

The candidates' appearance at the Women's Conference along with Governor Schwarzenegger is for some -- history in the making.

Kathi Sharpe-Ross: "It was really incredible to see how the true feelings of what they're dealing with are really coming to the surface and how it was brought to light."

The annual Women's Conference is designed to empower women -- one of the headline speakers -- Michelle Obama, who spoke about the journey to becoming first lady and how it took a little convincing.

Another prominent voice on the stage was California's first lady Maria Shriver, the host of the conference. Other speakers included ABCNEWS Anchor Diane Sawyer and the honorable Ruth Bader Ginsberg along with the honorable Sandra Day O'Connor.

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jerry brown, meg whitman, 2010 california governor race, 2010 election, politics

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