It appears that the Rev. Al Sharpton's dancing shoes will remain in the closet this fall.

Sharpton told N.Y. Daily News columnists Rush & Molloy that he was invited to appear on the ABC reality competition -- as well as Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice" on NBC -- but declined over the importance of the November election.

"This is a serious election," Sharpton told the columnists. "I don't want to be dancing with the stars when I should be protecting the vote."

Sharpton has shown his lighter side before, however. He's appeared as host of NBC's "Saturday Night Live."