Want a sign that things are not going well for the Romney campaign. Reportedly, Republican donors are shifting their money away from the presidential contest to down-ballot races.

Fox Business Channel's Charlie Gasparino says an exodus of big money donors away from the Romney campaign is starting, and could build unless he's able to turn the trajectory of the race around.

The trend isn't at the acute stage, at least not yet, said one person with direct knowledge of the matter. This person, a major player in Romney's New York fundraising circles, confirmed to FOX Business that a few New York donors have backed away from financial commitments to the Romney campaign and instead said they will spend their money to help the Republicans hold on to the House of Representatives, and pick up seats in the Senate.

But another person with direct knowledge of the matter says the trend, though nascent, is more geographically broad based, and reflects an increasing degree of anxiety both with what they believe is the tentative nature of the Romney campaign, and recent poll numbers that show President Obama with a lead, particularly in key battleground states, that some Republican contributors are starting to believe is insurmountable.

Some of Romney's New York donors, particularly from the financial industry, have been openly critical of the campaign's approach, arguing that Romney should be spending more time forcefully attacking President Obama on the economy and his foreign policy, according to people with knowledge of the matter. They've also accused the campaign of muzzling his vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan on the campaign trail, something Ryan has personally denied when asked.