Part of the problem with Newt's Contract was that Newt was the one who tried to apply it. Tactically (i.e., as an election tool) it was brilliant, but strategically it was hopeless because it played right into the strengths of the left and the MSM.
While the MSM and Democrats went into spasms of retching, Newt's Contract with America, however, like a true tuning fork, struck a deep chord within the American Public. They knew he was right. Regardless of "strategy", it struck the perfect chord with deep resonance. A chord the Dems are still scrambling to find.
and the Democrats have tried their own versions of the 'contract' with no success.