As James Webb returned to the campaign trail Friday, President Ronald Reagan's widow called on the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate not to use footage of the late president in a television ad.

The 30-second ad contains footage of Reagan commending Webb during a 1985 commencement speech at the U.S. Naval Academy. Webb then served as an assistant secretary of defense and later served a brief stint as Reagan's Navy secretary. His campaign plans to begin airing the spot on Monday in the Roanoke and Hampton Roads media markets and on Northern Virginia cable outlets.

The head of Nancy Reagan's office staff sent Webb's campaign a letter Friday asking it to "please refrain" from using footage or photos of the late president in campaign materials. Joanne Drake, the former first lady's chief of staff, wrote that the request came "at the direction of Mrs. Reagan."

The letter also suggests that the video is being used for a "very negative" ad, when it actually is part of a biographical spot on Webb.

Allen's campaign released a statement Friday from three former Reagan advisers accusing Webb of "dishonoring the memory of President Reagan" by using the video clip. Former Attorney General Edwin Meese, former Chief of Staff Ken Duberstein and former U.S. Sen. Paul Laxalt of Nevada said the footage implies that Reagan would have supported Webb.

Allen's campaign also has tried to capitalize on Reagan's popularity, mailing brochures featuring a photo of a much younger Allen standing beside Reagan. The same image appears on Allen's campaign Web site.

Webb stood by the ad while campaigning in Roanoke on Friday night, saying it appropriately uses footage in the public domain and is positive. He said he had not seen the correspondence from Nancy Reagan's office or the joint statement of three former Reagan advisers.

"If Ronald Reagan made any speeches about George Allen, I would imagine George Allen would be wanting to use the footage," Webb said in response to a question about the statements. "I would encourage them [Allen's campaign] to try to go find some."

Webb drew loud applause when he made a similar comment to more than 100 supporters attending a rally at the campaign's downtown Roanoke office.

The campaign showed the ad several times on a large screen. It shows footage of Reagan telling Naval Academy graduates: "One man who sat where you do now is another member of our administration, Assistant Secretary of Defense James Webb, the most decorated member of his class. James' gallantry as a Marine officer in Vietnam won him the Navy Cross and other decorations."

Webb left Reagan's administration in 1988 after refusing to agree to a fleet reduction tied to congressionally mandated budget cuts. He has been an outspoken opponent of President Bush's handling of the war in Iraq, an issue that figured in his decision to challenge Allen as a Democrat.

Webb resumed campaigning Friday after spending several days with his son Jimmy, a Marine lance corporal bound for Iraq. Webb said he left Camp Lejeune, N.C., Friday with a greater appreciation of "how fine these young men and women really are" and of "how important it is for our national leadership to make sure that what it is we do meets the quality of their sacrifices."