MANCHESTER, N.H. – Former President Donald Trump is considering skipping the 2024 Republican primary debates – one of the rites of election season – but some voters in the crucial, first-in-the-nation state of New Hampshire say it's a mistake.

“I want to see everybody out there and how they work and how they act on the fly,” said Vanessa Hayes, 41, of Goffstown.

Though Trump's positions are hardly unknown here, there are New England voters who say they want to see how all the candidates interact – and compare.

"I think how they debate and they answer questions on the fly is reflective of how they'll be able to perform under pressure," said 59-year-old Denise Greaves, an undecided voter in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Trump considers missing 2024 primary debates

Trump on Tuesday questioned why he would subject himself in a debate to “hostile NETWORKS” and “TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors.”

The former president reiterated his skepticism of the Republican primary debates Wednesday, referencing his large leads in multiple polls.

“I’m leading by 40 points,” Trump told New-York based WABC in an interview Wednesday. “People don’t debate when they have these massive leads.”

But a move like that could hold mixed results for Trump in important early voting states.

'Voters here want to see their candidates debating'

GOP voters planning to cast ballots in the first-in-the-nation primary of New Hampshire told USA Today a variety of views on how Trump skipping the debates could affect their perception of him.

“When you’re simply leading by such substantial numbers as (Trump is), it gives your challengers an opportunity to knock you down a few pegs,” Nathan Shrader, professor of political science at New England College said.

But even so, New Hampshire voters are accustomed to seeing candidates duke it out on the debate stage, which could make a dent in Trump’s popularity, Shrader said.

“There are some voters in New Hampshire who are used to seeing an open race or an open nomination.” Shrader said, but adding Trump’s commanding lead could withstand the electoral consequences. “I think voters here want to see their candidates debating but I’m not convinced that is enough to weaken Donald Trump as the frontrunner.”

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Some voters want to see Trump on the 2024 GOP debate stage

Hayes said the Republican presidential candidate pool for 2024 is “definitely” still an open field for her, including Trump.

She voted for President Joe Biden in the 2020 general election but said her ballot could still be cast for Trump in the primary.

A factor that could play into her decision are the upcoming GOP debates – being able to see how candidates interact with each other and quickly respond to questions and attacks.

Some voters are adamant against Trump as a candidate, but they would like to see him on the debate stage regardless.

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"It's good to hear their perspectives," said Randy McIntyre, 62, from Londonderry. McIntyre stressed even though he might not support Trump, he would like to see how the other candidates might interact with the former president.

Trump's apparent hesitancy to attend the debates could extend beyond New Hampshire as well. The state's style of retail politics attracts voters from all over the New England area, such Greaves, who said the primary debates are one of the most important aspects of the primary elections to her.

One undecided voter on Trump: 'I've seen him so many times'

Trump’s presidency dominated headlines, and he remains one of the largest figures in GOP politics after being voted out in 2020. Some Granite State voters say they already know enough about the former president and they do not need to see him on the debate stage to know what type of candidate he is.

“I’ve seen him so many times,” Ernie Bencivenga, 64, from Hooksett said. “I know what his views are. I’ve been to all his rallies when he was coming in.

Bencivenga, who is an avid Trump supporter, added that at this point in the race, he is only leaning towards Trump. He attended one of former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s town halls in Bedford and thinks the debates focus too much on national issues compared to local issues.

“I come here to these events to hear questions that the locals have, that us locals have and get answers, instead of the nationwide questions (from the debates),” Bencivenga said.

Some of Trump’s most diehard supporters, who gathered in Manchester Thursday for one of his first rallies in New Hampshire of the 2024 election cycle, would like to see him on the debate stage even though their primary vote is set on the former president.

“I think he did a very good job when he debated people,” said Jackie Bellanti, 80, who drove down from Lebanon, Maine to see Trump in Manchester. Even though Bellanti already knows Trump’s positions, she said she would enjoy seeing Trump duke it out with his competition in a public forum.

“Sometimes he gets a little carried away," Bellanti said. "Sometimes I think he gets rude sometimes. He shouldn’t do that."

Related: Mike Pence testified to federal grand jury about Donald Trump and Jan. 6

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump could skip the 2024 GOP debates. Voters have mixed feelings.