Gingrich’s poll numbers have slid with Republicans

Newt Gingrich's bumpy campaign rollout has taken a toll on his image with GOP voters.

A new Gallup Poll finds Gingrich's unfavorable rating among likely GOP voters is the highest of any potential 2012 presidential hopeful. According to the survey, 32 percent of Republicans and GOP-leading independents have an unfavorable view of Gingrich--an increase of 12 points in the last month.

Still, Gingrich's overall approval rating is still pretty decent. Sixty-one percent of likely GOP voters view the former House speaker favorably, according to Gallup--but that's down 7 points since early May and 14 points since April.

Since officially launching his 2012 bid two weeks ago, Gingrich has been under fire from members of his own party after he seemed to criticize Rep. Paul Ryan's proposal to retool Medicare. Gingrich later apologized to Ryan, but in a subsequent interview insisted he wasn't talking about the Minnesota congressman or his Medicare plan at all.

Gingrich has also been on the defense about a credit line he held with Tiffany's, valued at least $250,000. While Tiffany's has denied Gingrich received any special treatment, it's a detail that could potentially haunt the former speaker's 2012 bid and undermine his claims of fiscal conservatism--much in the same way John McCain's real estate portfolio was used against him during the 2008 campaign.

(Photo of Gingrich: Elise Amendola/AP)