(CNN) Sen. Amy Klobuchar said Sunday that she doesn't believe she and her fellow female senators running for president "would be standing on that stage if we had the experience" of Democratic candidate and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg.

The Minnesota Democrat told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" that while she believes Buttigieg is qualified, she sees herself as the better candidate.

"I'm the one from the Midwest that has actually won in a statewide race over and over again," in part by attracting voters on the fence, Klobuchar said.

"Those are the kind of voters I've won and that is not true of Mayor Pete -- that is just a fact," Klobuchar continued. "I also am someone that has passed multiple bills as a lead Democrat, important bills in Washington, DC. He's had a different experience."

Klobuchar's comments join those of other female candidates who have made taking ownership of their frustration with the political status quo focal points of their campaigns.

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