More Americans believe GOP's climate position isn't mainstream

The share of U.S. adults who believe the GOP's position on climate change is outside the mainstream is higher than it was 4 years ago, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll released over the weekend.

Why it matters: The results arrive as the 2020 election cycle is gathering steam and the Trump administration is moving ahead with efforts to dismantle Obama-era climate policies.

By the numbers:

• On the Republican Party position: 63% of all respondents believe the GOP position is outside the mainstream, up from 54% who held that view when the pollsters asked the same question in October 2015. 29% say it's in the mainstream and 7% weren't sure.
• On the Democratic Party position: 35% of respondents said the Democratic position is outside the mainstream, 56% said it's in the mainstream and 8% weren't sure.

The big picture: "The question was intended to record general perceptions rather than views of individual proposals, such as the Green New Deal for addressing climate change proposed by several Democratic lawmakers," WSJ reports.

• "Opinions could change as each party converges on detailed positions during the presidential campaign or congressional session," per WSJ.

Go deeper: Record number of Americans see climate change as a current threat