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Sarah Palin's standing among Republicans is slipping, a worrying sign as she mulls a 2012 presidential bid, a Washington Post poll indicated.

Fewer than six in 10 Republicans and Republican-leaning independents said they viewed Palin favorably, results of the Washington Post-ABC News poll released Wednesday indicated. The numbers slumped from a high of 88 percent in the days following the 2008 Republican National Convention where she addressed audience as the party's vice presidential nominee, and 70 percent in October.

Palin, now working for Fox News, scored a 58 percent favorable rating, behind the 61 percent for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and 60 percent for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, but ahead of the 55 percent former House Speaker Newt Gingrich received, results indicated.

Thirty-seven percent of all Republicans and GOP-leaning independents said they have a negative view of her, higher than negative views for other possible GOP presidential contenders, the post said.

In another dubious first for Palin, poll results indicate 47 percent of Republican-leaning independents said they had a favorable view of her.

Palin hasn't indicated whether she will seek the Republican presidential nomination.

Results are base on a nationwide telephone survey of 414 self-identified Republican and Republican-leaning participants Thursday through Sunday. The margin of error is 5 percentage points.

Source: UPI