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Ben Carson isn't spending THAT much on TV ads

According to ad-spending data from NBC News partner SMG Delta, Carson's campaign has spent $297,000 so far in TV ads.
Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson tours the Iowa State Fair on August 16, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty)
Republican presidential hopeful Ben Carson tours the Iowa State Fair on August 16, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa.

Donald Trump today dismissed Ben Carson tying him for the lead in Iowa in a recent poll because of the "tremendous" amount Carson is spending on advertisements.

"I like Ben a lot. He's a good guy," Trump told ABC News. "But he's been spending a tremendous amount of advertising money out in Iowa."

Well, not exactly -- at least when it comes to TV advertising.

According to ad-spending data from NBC News partner SMG Delta, Carson's campaign has spent $297,000 so far in TV ads -- $184,000 in Iowa, $113,000 in New Hampshire, and just $25,000 this week alone. (Pro-Carson Super PACs or outside groups have yet to spend on TV.)

By contrast, groups supporting Ohio Gov. John Kasich have spent nearly $4 million in TV ads (all in New Hampshire), an outside group backing Marco Rubio has spent $2.6 million (all on cable), and Hillary Clinton's campaign has spent $2.2 million (in both Iowa and New Hampshire).

Below is a look at all of the TV ad spending. (Caveat: Given that Super PACs and outside groups have to pay more for TV ads than actual campaigns, money spent isn't a perfect metric. But it gives you a good idea of who is on the air and where.)

Total ad spending (as of Sept. 1, 2015)

Team Kasich: $3.7 million (all in NH)

Team Rubio: $2.6 million (all on national cable)

Team Clinton: $2.2 million (in IA, NH)

Team Jindal: $1.6 million (all in IA)

Team Christie: $1.4 million (all in NH)

Team Perry: $1.4 million (all in IA)

Team Paul: $470K (in IA, NH)

Team Pataki: $314K (in NH)

Team Carson: $297K (in IA, NH)

Ad spending this week (Sept. 1 - Sept. 7)

Christie (via America Leads Super PAC): $345K -- all in NH

Clinton (via campaign): $304K -- IA and NH

Kasich (via New Day Independent Media Commmitte): $182K -- all in NH

Carson (via campaign): $25K

Top TV ad spenders in Iowa

Team Jindal: $1.6 million

Team Perry: $1.4 million

Team Clinton: $845K

Team Carson: $184K

Top TV ad spenders in New Hampshire

Team Kasich: $3.7 million

Team Christie: $1.4 million

Team Clinton: $1.4 million

Team Paul: $345K

Team Pataki: $314K

Team Carson: $113K

This article first appeared at NBCNews.com