Of course, the compliment was made Friday night during a $100 a plate Lincoln Day fund-raising dinner for the Salt Lake County Republican Party.

Those in attendance at the chandeliered ballroom of the Little America Hotel included Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett, Congressmen Rob Bishop and Chris Cannon, dozens of local and state Republican leaders and hundreds of other guests.

"He is principled, he is brilliant, he has boundless energy. In fact, the only flaw I can find is that he attended BYU," joked Huntsman, a former University of Utah student.

While supporters of Utah's Republican Party ate stuffed chicken and drank red punch, Romney delivered an energetic speech touching on America's need to maintain a strong military, improve the economy, strengthen education and promote family values.

"America cannot continue to lead the family of nations around the world if we fail to lead the family here at home," he said.

Romney also spoke against gay marriage and same sex unions. "I believe fundamentally that every child has a right to have a mother and a father," he said.

During his 15-minute speech, Romney also praised Ronald Reagan and President Bush as great Republican leaders and said he was glad to be back in Utah, where he was head of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Organizing Committee.

"I love being back in my home away from home," he said.

"I love the mountains, I love the people and I love the memories."

Romney also joked about how difficult it gets being a Republican leader in a predominately Democratic state.

"Being a Republican governor in a blue state is like being a cattle rancher at a vegetarian convention," he said.