America beat out the Soviet Union, the only other leading power, 25 years ago, said former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney on Wednesday night, and it will do the same against Russia and China.

Romney explained to a packed audience that America is made up of people with a strong work ethic and moral values.

"Americans are people who believe in God, or if they don't believe in God, they believe in something greater than themselves … they are more likely to sacrifice," Romney said.

The former Republican presidential candidate addressed a fundraising banquet at Grand America for the Maliheh Free Clinic, which has offered free medical care for low-income Utahns since 2005. The Salt Lake-based clinic organized the banquet to encourage prominent community and business leaders to donate and help the clinic serve its annual 11,000 patients without health insurance.

Romney, who supported the clinic's effort to help low-income Utahns, said that looking out at the audience, he was reminded how many people were willing to help their neighbors. He said he remembered during his business travels, how he would go through two nearby countries and marvel at the vast difference in their economic status.

The culture of a country is what makes it strong enough to survive economic turmoil, he said.

Romney also discussed how culture and hard work are the reasons the U.S. won't need as many free clinics as it has right now.

"I hope at some point we can give everyone insurance, but I don't think the government should do it," Romney said, disagreeing with President Barack Obama's health insurance plan and advocating private insurance.

And he said that American culture, based on religious and ethnic diversity, is the reason the U.S. can fight against competing world powers and win. Unlike China, Russia or "violent, radical jihadians," the U.S. is based on both free enterprise and personal freedom.

"Russia — they're back, I thought they were gone — they, like China, are an autocratic regime, but they base their strategy on energy," Romney said. "Control the energy and empty the wallets of people."

The audience full of people willing to empty their wallets to help uninsured folks is what Romney said convinces him America can best countries based on an autocratic government.

"America will remain the leader in the world if we continue to help others in need," Romney said.

The visiting former governor also keeps an eye on Utah news, congratulating Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert on taking over for Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. when he becomes U.S. ambassador to China. However, although Attorney General Mark Shurtleff announced his candidacy for Senate against U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett on Wednesday, Romney said he's backing Bennett.

E-MAIL: lgroves@desnews.com