Former six-term Republican congressman Scott McInnis, who’s all but announced he intends to run for the governor’s office in 2010, may be getting some payback for taking on the conservative base of the state party just before the 2008 election.

On Thursday, a conservative Web site called The Complete Colorado posted a link to an audio file of what an accompanying story claims is McInnis leaving a voice mail for a potential supporter in which he mentions GOP consultant Sean Tonner being on his team and doing a 527 issues committee on his behalf. McInnis confirmed the message was his to the Denver Post.

According to Colorado Ethics Watch, which Thursday announced it was launching an investigation, McInnis may be breaking Colorado election laws by coordinating campaign activities with a 527, as well as soliciting contributions and spending money without first registering a campaign committee with the Secretary of State.