Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has seen a surge in fundraising following Wednesday night's Republican presidential debate. Ramaswamy's campaign has raised $450,000 in the first few hours after the debate, with an average donation of $38. The political newcomer, who took center stage in the absence of front-runner Donald Trump, made several memorable moments during the debate by criticizing his rivals as "super PAC puppets" who relied on "ready-made, preprepared slogans" to attack him. Ramaswamy has largely self-funded his campaign, raising over $7.7 million in the second quarter and finishing with more than $9 million on hand. Meanwhile, other campaigns have not yet responded to messages about their post-debate fundraising. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott made a direct appeal for donations during his closing remarks on stage. Former President Donald Trump, who is currently leading in the polls for the nomination, chose not to attend the debate.