By Matt Haber

September 8, 2008 | 9:10 a.m.

MSNBC is moving back the center. According to a report by The New York Times' Brian Stelter, the cable news network's experiment in more partisan election coverage "appears to be over."

Writes Stelter:

The sometimes rancorous convention coverage repartee between Mr. Olbermann (whom The Times describes as "lightning rod for much of the criticism") and Mr. Matthews (as well as Joe Scarborough), seems to have turned many people off, including members of John McCain's campaign who have "filed letters of complaint" and even some MSNBC employees, including one who (anonymously) told Mr. Stelter, "They have banked the entirety of the network on Keith Olbermann."

In response, MSNBC will now use NBC News correspondent David Gregory to anchor its debate coverage and election night broadcast. Mr. Stelter also hints that this new shift away from open partisanship on the part of MSNBC might impact the openly liberal radio host Rachel Maddow's new show, which is scheduled to debut tonight.