The likelihood that 2 tea party conservatives will stay in the race, neck and neck, each getting votes, in primary after primary, is slim.
Either Palin or Bachmann will be ahead of the other, and the other will drop out.
They have to make sure they’re nice to each other, so that when one drops out, the other will get their support. The same is true, pretty much, with any tea party candidate.
Those emotionally invested in either candidate need to be prepared to support the other, IMO. I find the attacks, particularly against Bachmann (but a few against Palin as well) to be rather disturbing at this point in the game.