COMPAQ MERGER TOO CLOSE TO CALL.(BUSINESS)

Byline: BRIAN BERGSTEIN Associated Press

CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Hewlett-Packard chairwoman and chief executive Carly Fiorina quickly claimed victory Tuesday in her company's bitter proxy battle to buy Compaq Computer Corp., saying a preliminary estimate of shareholder votes shows enough support to approve the merger.

``It appears that our shareholders made a choice today, not only to embrace change but to lead it,'' Fiorina said after the two-hour meeting. ``We think we have a slim but sufficient margin, and we think it's important to let people know that.''

Fiorina spoke at the conclusion of a meeting of more than 1,000 Hewlett-Packard Co. …