difference between import from mod.func() and x=mod.func()

[Hari Sekhon]

What is the difference in terms of efficiency and speed between

from os import path

and

import os
path=os.path


I would think that the import from would be better, just curious since I 
read somewhere on the web, some guy's code tutorial where he did the 
latter and said it was for efficiency/speed.
Not sure if this is right.

Seeing as python folks seem to value simplicity and cleanness, is there 
a preferred coding method? (again I would think the first to the the 
preferred)


Hari