CBS

CLEVELAND (AP) -- Newt Gingrich is keeping a chipper tone despite his poor showing in this week's GOP presidential caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota.

Gingrich made no mention of the results during his only scheduled public appearance for the next two days. He told workers at a metal manufacturing plant in Cleveland on Wednesday that he can lead the nation to an era of prosperity and security.

The former House speaker did not directly mention GOP rivals Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum in his unusually short 12-minute remarks. He made only a passing reference to President Barack Obama. Gingrich restated his goal of giving workers the option of having private Social Security savings accounts.

Gingrich was scheduled to return to Washington later in the day, and has scheduled no public events for Thursday.