Ben Carson says he won't do 'SNL' because running for president 'is a very serious thing' (video)
Ben Carson wants voters to know he's taking this whole running for president thing very seriously.
So seriously, in fact, that the GOP candidate -- who's beginning to be more popular than Donald Trump in some recent polls -- told Bloomberg's Mark Halperin and John Heilemann on Friday that he doesn't plan on appearing on "Saturday Night Live" during his campaign.
"I think the presidency of the United States is a very serious thing. I don't even want to begin to put it in the lightness of comedy," Carson said.
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The strategy is in stark contrast to Trump's campaign, which is hoping his Nov. 7 episode of "SNL" will only boost his popularity. Trump, a real estate mogul and NBC reality star before entering the 2016 presidential race, hosted the show once before in 2004.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton appeared on the NBC sketch series' 41st season premiere earlier this month. Bernie Sanders hasn't participated yet, but he did dig Larry David's "pretty, pretty, pretty good" impersonation of him after the first Democratic debate.
Photos of Ben Carson on the campaign trail:
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Watch Carson weigh in on Trump, his opponents and "SNL" below.
Read original story Ben Carson Says He Won't Do 'SNL' Because Running for President 'Is a Very Serious Thing' (Video) At TheWrap
Photos of Donald Trump on the campaign trail:
