WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Chris Dodd, the Connecticut Democrat who launched a presidential bid Thursday, told CNN his 25 years of experience in the Senate give him an advantage over other potential candidates in the 2008 field.

"I think after six years of what appears to be on the job training for a president not prepared for this job, [the American people] want to have someone who knows how to do this, who has actually got demonstrable experience and capabilities of working on domestic and foreign policy questions," Dodd told Wolf Blitzer Thursday on "The Situation Room."

Dodd also said he was "hopeful" his Connecticut colleague Sen. Joe Lieberman would support his White House run, despite the awkward situation the two found themselves in last summer. When Lieberman lost Connecticut's Democratic primary in August, Dodd -- a long time friend of Lieberman -- threw his support behind Lieberman's opponent, Ned Lamont.

"We are great friends, we had a bit of a difficulty last summer and fall with his race as an independent but I was the chairman of Joe's campaign nationally for president," Dodd said.

"In time, I'm hopeful Joe will be supportive but he's going to take his time. I didn't ask him for his support. I'm sure it will work out," he added.