Washington, August 3 (RHC)-- Former U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who has openly opposed Donald Trump’s candidacy, says it is very likely that the Republican nominee wins the presidential election in November.

Romney told reporters that the multi-billionaire "deserves credit" for connecting with voters and wining the party’s nomination. And the former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said the very crowded field of the Republican candidates provided an ideal setting for Trump to miss being scrutinized in a way that might have kept him from winning the nomination.

In June, Romney said Trump could legitimize racism and bigotry and change the moral fabric of U.S. society if wins the presidency. Romney also described Clinton as “an awful candidate” who was trying to act like her husband former President Bill Clinton.

A Gallup poll released earlier this month found that Trump and Clinton are among the worst-rated presidential candidates of the last 70 years. Trump, however, has taken a two-percentage point lead over Clinton, marking the first time he has been ahead since early May, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll.