[CentOS] Changing Python Version

Hi;
I am trying to change the default version of python on my centos 5.7 box and leave the old installation. Frustrated by not finding any help online, I went ahead and installed Python 2.6 from the source. It appears to be my default, but when I fire up mod_wsgi, it complains that it can't import os. Please advise.
TIA,
Quincey