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http://www.python.org/dev/faq/ doesn't seem to explain how to regenerate "configure"
Here's an attempt at answering that question; I hope the following is appropriate and factually correct:
How to regenerate the "configure" script (e.g. to add a new configuration parameter)
Python's "configure" script is generated from "configure.in" from autoconf. Do not edit "configure"; instead, edit "configure.in" and run "autoreconf". You should run "./configure --help" to verify that your changes are documented as expected.
Python's "configure.in" script typically requires a specific version of autoconf. At the moment, this reads:
 version_required(2.61)
If the system copy of autoconf does not match this version, you will need to install your own copy of autoconf and use this.
1. Go to http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/autoconf/ and download the version of autoconf matching the one in configure.in
 For example:
 $ wget http://ftp.gnu.org/gnu/autoconf/autoconf-2.61.tar.bz2
2. Unpack the tarball:
 $ tar -jxf autoconf-2.61.tar.bz2 
3. Build the specified version of autoconf and install it to a writable location (e.g. within your home directory):
$ pushd autoconf-2.61.tar.bz2
$ ./configure --prefix=$HOME/autoconf-2.6.1
$ make ; make install
This drops a copy of the appropriate version of autoconf into ~/autoconf-2.6.1
4. Go back to the python source and rerun autoconf, pointing PATH at the specific copy of autoconf:
 $ popd
 $ PATH=~/autoconf-2.6.1/bin:$PATH autoreconf
5. "autoconf" should now have updated your local copy of "configure" to reflect your changes.
6. Run "./configure --help" to verify that your changes have been applied