static variables in Python?

[kj]

Yet another noob question...

Is there a way to mimic C's static variables in Python?  Or something
like it?  The idea is to equip a given function with a set of
constants that belong only to it, so as not to clutter the global
namespace with variables that are not needed elsewhere.

For example, in Perl one can define a function foo like this 

*foo = do {
  my $x = expensive_call();
  sub {
    return do_stuff_with( $x, @_ );
  }
};

In this case, foo is defined by assigning to it a closure that has
an associated variable, $x, in its scope.

Is there an equivalent in Python?

Thanks!

kynn
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