And so they did, with Romney declaring that the results will "echo beyond the borders of Wisconsin" and signal a turning point "against the runaway government costs imposed by labor bosses."

But Wisconsin was less a turning point in public sentiment regarding public unions than an end point to the belief that President Obama's fundraising lead was large enough for him to stay safely ahead of Governor Romney for the duration of the campaign.

The fact that the GOP outspent Democrats by more than 7-1 showed the degree to which Democrats, despite being well aware of the symbolic importance of the Wisconsin results, allowed themselves to be caught flat-footed in a post-Citizens United electoral world. If there was ever any doubt that Republicans are willing to put enough money on the table to win -- Wisconsin removed that doubt.

And that willingness of Republican donors to pony up was made clearer when both campaigns released their fundraising numbers for May this past Thursday.