How do I make the value closer to the summation?

Question

\begin{align}
    \sum_{e\in abzbb}x_{p}-l_p\sum_{e\in abdab}x_{p}=3
\end{align}

Since my abdab is so big, it separates the l_p so much from the summation. What I would like is the following: it should be close, but it shouldn't depend on the size of whatever goes in the summation starting sum.

From above, instead of abdab we have just a, but I want the same distance regardless of what is underneath.

Is this possible?

Answer 1

With mathtools loaded (needless to load amsmath in this case):

\begin{align}
    \smashoperator{\sum_{e\in abzbb}}x_{p}-l_p\smashoperator{\sum_{e\in abdab}}x_{p}=3
\end{align}