PEP 572 -- Assignment Expressions

Tue Nov 27 05:48:20 EST 2018

 Hello.
 Maybe it's too late for a discussion, but I just couldn't resist.
 I just found out about this new ":=" operator. I need to ask:
 What is the need for this additional ":" to the "="?
 Why:
 if (match := pattern.search(data)) is not None:
 # Do something with match
 What is wrong with:
 if match = pattern.search(data) is not None:
 # Do something with match
 Assignment expression or assignment statement, it's an assignment,
right? It is very clear to everyone that it's an assignment! Can't it all
just be a "="?
 Thank you very much!
 Kind Regards
 Ivo Shipkaliev