Match a pattern in a string

def match_string(pattern, search_string):
    '''
    Match a pattern in a string
    '''

    rexobj = REX(pattern, None)

    rexpatstr = reformat_pattern(pattern)
    #print "rexpatstr: ", rexpatstr

    rexpat = re.compile(rexpatstr)
    rexobj.rex_patternstr = rexpatstr
    rexobj.rex_pattern = rexpat

    line_count = 1
    for line in search_string.splitlines():
        line = line.strip()
        mobj = rexpat.match(line)
        if mobj:
            populate_resobj(rexobj, mobj, line_count)
        line_count += 1

    return rexobj