Members of the liberal advocacy group MoveOn plan to protest presumptive GOP presidential nominee John McCain outside a Portland gas station today.

The group is targeting McCain because they believe he favors protecting oil company profits at a time when "consumers need real solutions to rising gas prices," local organizer Bill DiGiulio said in a statement.

Today's protest is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Exxon Mobil at 1196 Congress St.

McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, is running against Sen. Barack Obama from Illinois, who is the presumptive Democratic candidate for president.

Mark Ellis, chairman of the Maine Republican Party, said in a statement that McCain has proposed policies such as a summer gas tax holiday "that offer real solutions."

He said protestors should focus their criticism on Obama, who he said wants to impose higher energy taxes.