ImportError: No module named distutils.core

after download nova(Cactus) , extract it, and then execute:

"sudo python setup.py build", it occurs error as follows:

swift-s@swift-s:~/Desktop/nova-2011.2$ sudo python setup.py build
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "setup.py", line 24, in <module>
    from setuptools import find_packages
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/setuptools/__init__.py", line 2, in <module>
    from setuptools.extension import Extension, Library
  File "/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/setuptools/extension.py", line 1, in <module>
    from distutils.core import Extension as _Extension
ImportError: No module named distutils.core
swift-s@swift-s:~/Desktop/nova-2011.2$

I am trying to find answer from internet , but no help

what can I do ???