Ohio Restaurant Association sticks with Gov. John Kasich despite split over guns in bars

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Gov. John Kasich will return to the campaign trail Tuesday for a "special announcement" with the Ohio Restaurant Association in Steubenville.

Expect an endorsement, given that the organization backed the Republican four years ago and already lists him among its favored candidates for 2014.

But what happened in between makes this more interesting than your typical endorsement. Kasich in 2011 signed into law a bill that allows concealed firearms to be carried in bars, restaurants and other Class D licensed liquor establishments.

One of the most vocal opponents of the guns-in-bars bill: The restaurant group.

Bygones? The association also is supporting the bill's sponsor, State Sen. Tim Schaffer of Lancaster, in the term-limited Republican's bid for the Ohio House. The names of several co-sponsors -- Bill Beagle, Shannon Jones, Kris Jordan, Gayle Manning and Scott Oelslager -- also appear on the list of endorsed candidates.

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