Gov. Sean Parnell  made a mistake by declining to meet President Barack Obama today in Anchorage.

I understand that Parnell had a commitment that he made a month ago, but Parnell should have apologized to the Associated General Contractors and gone to meet Obama at Elmendorf. I’m sure the AGC would not have objected.

Parnell’s decision reflects poorly on Alaska. It’s an unwanted holdover from the partisanship of the 2008 vice presidential campaign. Parnell should be charting a different course.