re.compile missing in python 2.3.3/2.3.4???

[Steve]

Hi,

I just installed a fresh copy of python 2.3.3 and python 2.3.4 and 
everytime a there's a call to re.compile, it says:
Traceback (most recent call last):
   File "setup.py", line 76, in ?
     from distutils.core import setup
   File "/usr/lib/python2.2/distutils/core.py", line 16, in ?
     from distutils.util import grok_environment_error
   File "/usr/lib/python2.2/distutils/util.py", line 207, in ?
     _wordchars_re = re.compile(r'[^\\\'\"%s ]*' % string.whitespace)
AttributeError: 'module' object has no attribute 'compile'

First, how do I make the file 'setup.py' point to the directory: 
/opt/python-2.3.4/lib/python2.3/distutils instead. It keeps using the 
default, which is: /usr/lib/python2.2/distutils/. Second, is this 
related to why re.compile won't work? Please help!!!

Steve