Barack Obama actually said...

"Maybe most of all, thanks to your faith in our democracy and the American people, the country is better off than when you took office, and we should all be deeply grateful for that."

"Joe, it is now America's good fortune to have you as president. You've built on and gone beyond the work we all did together. The country is better off than when you took office."

"the country is better off than when you took office, and we should all be deeply grateful for that."

"I've always described the presidency as a relay race. Each of us tasked with trying to bring the country we love closer to its highest aspirations."