Democratic presidential candidate and entrepreneur Andrew Yang gained many more new followers than other candidates during the debate in Houston on Thursday night.

Yang attracted over 7,500 new followers, an increase of nearly 1%, according to a tally by Politico. Nevertheless, Yang came in last for total speaking time for his third debate in a row with only 7.9 minutes. Front-runner Joe Biden spoke for 17.4 minutes.

Yang caused a frenzy online the day before the third Democratic debate by teasing that he would be announcing "something no presidential candidate has ever done before in history." Many Twitter users wagered guesses as to what Yang, 44, had in store for his audience. He had previously turned heads by choosing not to wear a necktie to the typically formal setting of a debate, something he did again Thursday night.

However, just ahead of the debate start on Thursday, Yang revealed that the surprise would be that he was opening a lottery that would allow people to enter for a chance to win $1,000 a month for a year. He intends to award 12 individuals or families with the lottery prize as a way of promoting what he has dubbed the "Freedom Dividend."

"We thought putting money into their hands in this way, would be an exciting way to do it,” Yang said of his decision to give away the money. “I think we were clearly right, because the numbers have been tremendous."

Yang has been steadfast in his support of the Freedom Dividend, which he promises, if elected as president, to award to all Americans as a way of boosting incomes. Many have been critical of the viability and efficacy of such a program, but it has been Yang's signature proposal throughout his campaign.

Despite the sudden surge in interest on Twitter, however, Andrew Yang is still polling at an average of just 3%, more than 20 points behind front-runner Joe Biden.

