Northrop Grumman's Virginia donations feed Republicans and Democrats...

Gov. Bob McDonnell's big win in landing Northrop Grumman cost the state between $12 million and $15 million according to the administration.

But it's impossible to simply look at that number free of context - including the millions that the defense contracting company has dumped into campaign coffers for McDonnell and dozens of other Virginia politicos.

Just take a look at the numbers over at the Virginia Public Access Project and you see that just about everybody who mounted a serious run for office has been able to cash in thanks to Northrop Grumman.

Last year, McDonnell got $50,500 for his campaign for governor and his Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds got $25,000. McDonnell's inauguration committee got another $25,000 from the company. Troll through the list and you can see that the company covers its bases very well when it comes to Virginia leadership.

Couple that with the big and lucrative extension McDonnell signed with Northrop Grumman on the Virginia Information Technology Agency. The three-year extension on the problem-laden contract included $105 million in extra payouts and $47 million in additional purchases from the state.

Here's a story breaking down the new deal with Northrop Grumman and the state. 

There truly is no such thing as a free lunch.