In 2008, President Barack Obama won the independent vote over John McCain by a margin of eight points, 52-44. This morning, a new Battleground Poll has Mitt Romney massacring Obama among indies by a whopping 16 points, 51-35.

That’s a 24-point swing among independents since 2008, a group that makes up anywhere from a quarter to a third of voters, and yet Battleground still has Obama in the lead 49-48…?

But if I’m skeptical of those bottom-line numbers, our journalist overlords who have chosen to palace guard instead of question will declare me a “truther.”

The Battleground Poll also shows a 13 point enthusiasm gap in Romney’s favor. Only 73% of Obama’s supporters are “extremely likely” to vote, compared to 86% of Romney’s supporters.

But again, don’t question Battleground’s 49-48% outcome. In fact, don’t question anything anymore — or the media will question you and mock you as a “truther. ” This includes questioning our government about the release of counter-intuitive unemployment statistics very helpful to the president just 30 days out from the election.

Though the media hasn’t yet decided it’s time for a Romney Comeback Narrative, and probably never will, even if he wins — there’s no question Romney is rebounding in every national and swing state poll.

Nationally, Gallup has it all tied up among registered voters — with the president dangerously below 50 at 47%. Rasmussen uses the more reliable likely voter screen and has Romney up 49-47%.

In the Real Clear Politics poll of polls, nationally Romney is only down .09%. A week ago he was down over 4 points.

In Ohio, according to RCP’s poll of polls, Obama’s Ohio lead has shrunk to three — Virginia has Obama only up by 0.3. Florida and Colorado are tied.

The good news for Romney is that we are now seeing polls from each of these states with the GOP nominee in the lead. The bad news for Obama is that in most of these swing state polls, he is not hitting 50.

Well, actually the worst news for Obama is 85% of the calls made for this new Battleground Poll were made prior to Obama humiliating himself in last week’s debate.

Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC