Calling himself the dark horse in a crowded field of candidates, Senator Christopher J. Dodd announced today that he is running for president.

According to the Hartford Courant, the five-term Connecticut senator and former DNC chairman made the announcement this morning on Don Imus’ radio show, saying that he believes his experience will prove valuable in a primary field packed with competitors.

“Now I’ve been here 25 years in the United States Senate — normally that would exclude you from even considering higher office, but I think people this time around believe experience matters, that I know how to do this,” he said.

“On every major foreign policy and domestic issue over the last quarter of a century I’ve been deeply involved in it.”

But Dodd acknowledged that he would face an uphill battle against other candidates with better national recognition, such as Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.), both of whom insiders say are likely to enter the race.

“I’m not as well-known as some of the others candidates who’ll be running, but a year from now we’ll still be talking about the first caucuses and primaries, and 12 months is more than a lifetime in politics. I decided I wanted to get off the — out of the bleachers and on the arena floor and make my case,” he said.

Former North Carolina Senator and vice-presidential nominee John Edwards has spent two years building support for a bid and is viewed as a strong candidate. Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Gov. Tom Vilsack of Iowa are also already in.

Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, the party’s candidate in 2004, is also considering joining the race, and many Democrats would love to see another run by former vice president Al Gore.

Dodd, 62, is serving his fifth term in the Senate and is chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, where he is currently waging war against payday loans and other forms of predatory lending. Dodd is also a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations committee and a vocal critic of the Iraq war - and most recently, President Bush’s troop increase.

He has spent a lot of time in the past several months shoring up support in states with early primaries, like New Hampshire and Iowa, as well as South Carolina. The most recent presidential polls have left Dodd off the list, but supporters say his experience and personality are assets.

Dodd’s headquarters will be in Connecticut. He will travel to Iowa today and South Carolina over the weekend to build support.