MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa -- Donald Trump stirred the pot here in Marshalltown on Tuesday, announcing that he would not participate in Thursday's scheduled presidential debate, just days before the presidential primary season.
It thrust this town of just over 27,000 people into the political spotlight.
Trump attributed his decision to skip the debate to what he called "a wise-guy press release" from Fox News Channel that was "written by a child." Later, Trump's campaign said Trump would instead host a competing event in Iowa to raise money for wounded veterans.
We asked Marshalltown voters what they thought of Trump's decision, just days before the Feb. 1 Iowa caucuses.
Tom Webber, 65, Republican
Iowa voters are weighing in on Trump's decision to bail on #GOPDebate. Tom Webber, 65 from Marshalltown: pic.twitter.com/NQs55uET8z— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) January 27, 2016
"This election cycle is wacko," said Tom Webber, a Republican who caucused for Rick Santorum during the last election cycle.
While Webber doesn't support Trump, he said he was disappointed that the Iowa frontrunner planned to sit out the final Republican debate ahead of the Feb. 1 caucuses.
"I think he is a liberal in Republican clothing," said Webber. "I think that if you are going to be the leader of the free world, you are going to have a lot tougher opponents than Megyn Kelly."
Webber said though that even if Trump sits out the debate, it probably won't make a difference when it comes to caucus day.
"I think some will be very disappointed because there are a lot of fans of Donald Trump here and they will want to see him on TV," said Webber. "Everybody is talking about Donald Trump, nobody is talking about Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum."
Gary Yak, 59, Republican
Another Marshalltown resident says Trump's a bully & he's not surprised he's bailing on #GOPDebate #whatiowawants pic.twitter.com/PCpgoaLLO2— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) January 27, 2016
Trump is a "bully," Gary Yak of Marshalltown said, adding that he wasn't surprised that Trump had decided to sit out the debate.
"So many people are praying that he reveals his true self, and that decision showed exactly what he is. He's a bully," said Yak. "When he doesn't get his way, this is what he does."
Jamie Jacobson, 44, Republican
Jamie Jacobson will caucus for the first time Monday. She thinks Trump is taking the "easy way out" by not debating pic.twitter.com/JBi3q8iW1Y— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) January 27, 2016
This is Jamie Jacobson's first caucus, and she's made a point of seeing each Republican candidate that stumps in her hometown.
Jacobson and her son attended the Trump event where he announced that he wouldn't take part in the debate, a move she said was likely to dodge tough questions from his opponents.
"I don't think he thinks on his feet very well in my opinion, so I think it's an easy out for him," said Jacobson.
Jessica Armstrong, 33, Republican
Jessica Armstrong, 33, Republican voter: Trump dropping out of #gopdebate could hurt interest in the event pic.twitter.com/JRgE5OPLFu— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) January 27, 2016
Jessica Armstrong, a devoted Republican, thinks that Trump pulling out of the debate could move the focus to other candidates, but fears that interest in the event could drop.
"It might be good because it will give the other candidates a chance to have their voices heard, but it could hurt the ratings and the interest in the debate," said Armstrong.
Still though, she was skeptical that Trump's decision would hurt him.
"He's such a common name, it's not going to hurt him at all."
Vertis Brockman, 80, Republican
Trump supporter Vertis Blackman thinks that Trump decision to pull out of #GOPDebate is a "very good idea." pic.twitter.com/SzRM1OHgQh— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) January 27, 2016
Vertis Brockman called Trump's choice to pull out of the debate a "good idea" and called his dislike for Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly justified.
Brockman thinks that Trump's independent event, allegedly to raise funds for a veterans group, is a better way to use his time.
"I'm going to go to the caucus and I am going to vote for him, and it won't change my plan one bit," said Brockman.
Deanna Scully, 50, Democrat
Democrat Deanna Scully thinks Trump is acting like a child over #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/AZTrojsNfh— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) January 27, 2016
Deanna Scully is a registered Democrat, who is leaning toward supporting Hillary Clinton. When we asked her what she thought about Trump, she said he's acting like a child by sitting out the debate.
"He just seems like if he can't play by his rules, or against people he wants to play with, he's just going to take his ball and go home," said Scully.