The coronavirus pandemic is providing a political boost to Joe Biden, enabling him to avoid campaign rallies and other public gatherings where he is prone to verbal miscues that could hamper his bid to oust President Trump.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, candidates in both parties have canceled public gatherings for the foreseeable future, replacing them with virtual events. The unusual development allows Biden to avoid traditional campaign rallies and town hall meetings, where he has occasionally faced hecklers, made news for sparse attendance, gotten into angry arguments with attendees, or obscured his message with headline-grabbing slip-ups. Biden is often at his best in controlled settings, and that could pay dividends against Trump if the coronavirus crisis persists.